The Freshwater Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a freshwater fish in the Cichlidae family. It is the most common Angelfish. It is a cichlid.
The Freshwater Angelfish has a thin, laterally compressed triangular-shaped body. It is silver with three brownish-red vertical stripes on its body and red markings on its fins. It has elongated, trailing fins. It has reddish-brown eyes.
It grows to 38 centimetres (15 inches) in length.
It is found in the Amazon River Basin in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. It prefers swamps and floodplains with thick vegetation.
It is an omnivore, eating algae, detritus, and invertebrates.
The female lays eggs near the roots of aquatic plant.
Location of photographs: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM