Home / Fishes / Cichlids / Cichlidae / Altum Angel
No federal permit to keepAltum Angel
Pterophyllum altum
Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Pterophyllum altum, also referred to as the altum angelfish, deep angelfish, or Orinoco angelfish, occurs strictly in the Orinoco River Basin and the Upper Rio Negro watershed in Southern Venezuela, Southeastern Colombia and extreme Northern Brazil.
Intro from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 36 in long and 15 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 7.1 in / 18 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 81–88°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 4.8–6.2.
- Hardness: 1–5 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: soft, acidic water, 82–90 °F, pH 4.8–6.2, 0–5 dGH.
- Difficulty: Difficult (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Provide a densely planted, well covered aquarium with floating plants and broad-leafed plants to help dim the lighting in the Altum's aquarium.”
- Diet: “As most Altum Angels are wild caught, feeding can be troublesome.”
- Tankmates: “As with their more common relatives (Angelfish - Pterophyllum Scalare ), anything which can fit in the Altum's mouth is "fair game".”
- Breeding: “Breeding can be very difficult with Altums.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Freshwater angelfish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Slow, vegetated Amazon waters. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For adult Pterophyllum scalare, Seriously Fish recommends at least 100 × 40 × 50 cm, including 50 cm height; tank volume alone misses fin height. Use the species water parameters and compatible stocking.
- Avoid fin-nipping tankmates.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 76–84°F |
Diet
- Flakes, pellets and frozen foods; they eat small fish like neon tetras as adults.
Health watch
- Ich, fin rot and angelfish virus in crowded tanks.
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. Inhabits rivers. May reach about 20 cm in height. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 81–88 °F (27–31 °C), pH 4.8–6.2, hardness 1–5 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: clutch tenders. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 81–88 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 93°F (up to 95°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 70°F (down to 68°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 79–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 77–83% on average (driest month about 72%) |
| Rainfall | about 2949 mm a year |
Measured at 25 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Pterophyllum altum, also referred to as the altum angelfish, deep angelfish, or Orinoco angelfish, occurs strictly in the Orinoco River Basin and the Upper Rio Negro watershed in Southern Venezuela, Southeastern Colombia and extreme Northern Brazil. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | The species is the largest member in its genus and specimens may have a height (from tip of dorsal to tip of anal fin) of as much as 38 cm. Its natural base color is silver but with three brownish/red vertical stripes and red striations into the fins. The species may show red spotting and a blueish green dorsal overcast when mature and when aroused exhibits a black operculum spot. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Biology | May reach about 20 cm in height. Maximum length 18 cm TL. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Pterophyllum scalare Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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