Aquarium Care

The Latin word for tall is altum, which truly describes the Altum angelfish, the biggest of the freshwater angelfish variety. Altum angelfish originate from South America, specifically the Rio Orinoco river in Venezuela.

Altum angelfish are silver colored with tan vertical stripes. This striped patterned helps them hide amongst the perpendicular plant life native to the region. Altums have a rather unique shaped mouth, which is rather pointed, and their forehead is sharply sloped. The first dark band runs through the eye; the second runs near the mid-section of the body, while the third runs from the tip of the dorsal fin, through the body, and to the tip of the anal fin. The final band runs on the caudal penuncle.

To adequately house such a large angelfish, the fish tank ought to be no fewer than 55 gallons and 30″ tall. The fish tank should be ornamented with sizable pieces of bogwood that if feasible should reach the waters surface. Large leafed plants like Amazon swordsplants can also be useful and are generally left alone.

Perfect water conditions for your Altums would be very soft and only slightly acidic. A pH level of 4.5 to 6.5 are perfect. The water ought to also be warm, in the 82 to 86 degree range to match natural conditions. It’s also important to keep your nitrates level very low for Altums. The water should also circulated slowly to match the low flow environment found naturally. Maintaining outstanding water quality is a crucial ingredient to successfully raise Altum angelfish.

Unlike the common angelfish, the Scalare, Altums can be challenging to keep and successfully raise in captivity. This is due mainly to the reality that nearly all Altum sold are wild caught, not domestically farmed. Because of this they can more difficult to find and not a lot of folks try and keep them.

In attempting to buy Altums, it is wise to look for an skilled angelfish breeder. Because they are wild caught they can be difficult to locate, and sometimes imitations are sold.

Although Altums are calm, they can also be very territorial. For that reason, Altums are not the greatest of community fish. They can be successfully kept with most calm fish, and are ideally kept with other calm species from the same area such as Discus and Tetras. Small fish might be considered food and should not be kept with cardinal and neon tetras given that Altum angelfish as all angelfish appear very fond of eating these. They ought to never be kept with regular angelfish because they can hybridize with (Pterophyllum scalare).

Altums will consume all the time if given the option. They have ravenous appetites. Coming from the wild, they prefer live food, but will ultimately accept frozen foods such as brine shrimp and blood worms.

Despite providing great water conditions and a good diet, Altum angelfish can be difficult to raise and even more tough to breed. Determining the sex can also be especially difficult, as it is with most of the angelfish varieties.

Want to discover other effective Altum Angelfish Tips? Visit our website at http://angelfishbreeding.slhost3.com. While visiting our site you can also sign up for our free “Angelfish Breeding and Care” email mini course.

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Angelfish, Pterophyllum Scalare, are classified to the family Cichlidae. This family is more casually identified as cichlids. Angelfish are endemic to the Amazon River.

Cichlids have become ever more popular with freshwater aquarists since they started being exported by the aquarium trade after the conclusion of WWII. Angelfish are undoubtedly among the most popular and easily recognizable freshwater fish in the world. Their unique triangular profile makes them one of the most exotic freshwater species on the market. The selective breeding of these creatures has dramatically increased the assortment of angelfish available to the consumer. Angels come in an array of colors, from white, silver, gold and black to striped, marbled and Koi. Their abundance keeps their price exceptionally reasonable. They are a robust species that can stay alive in a multitude of environmental conditions. Angels are one of the most care free fish you can own. Their ease of care has undoubtedly contributed to their global popularity.

Appearances can be misleading. The fish available at the retail stores are not fully grown. Angels routinely grow to six inches in diameter as adults. They can be housed in a fish tank as little as 10 gallons however 20 gallons and is ideal.

Angelfish are non-aggressive. Angelfish make excellent additions to a community tank. Angels will, however, deem smaller community dwellers as a source of nutrition. Avoid keeping them with smaller varieties like rasboras, zebra danios or fancy guppies. It is also ill advisable housing them with species like barbs and tetras. These are fin nippers by nature. An angelfish’s long, flowing fins are delicious taste treat, just begging to be snacked on.

Angelfish are omnivores. Their diet should consist of both plant and animal matter. You will want to make sure to choose a fish food prepared for omnivores as their main staple. A good quality flake food is all you will need to keep your angelfish healthy and happy. Many fish hobbyists prefer to provide an assortment of nutritional choices in addition to the main staple. Although this is not strictly mandatory, it is recommended. You might want to ask yourself; would you want to eat the exact same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of your life? A varied regimen will help to ensure optimum health. Dried seaweed sheets are a wonderful dietary supplement for omnivores. High protein supplements such as brine shrimp, tubifex and bloodworms make ideal dietary supplements. If you can not find them fresh, frozen and freeze-dried preparations are available commercially.

Angels inhabit the Amazon River. They are accustomed to water with a slightly acidic base. A pH factor of 6.8 and temperatures ranging between 72-86 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal environment. If maintained properly an angelfish can live in excess of 10 years.

When it comes to parenting, fish in general can be divided into two basic categories. There are those fish that will abandon their unborn eggs or even ingest them in complete disregard for nature’s mandate to prorogate the species. Then there are the fish that express varying amounts of brooding intuition. All cichlids fall to some extent in the latter category. Angelfish are commonly called open brooders. This simply means that they will prepare a flat surface like a rock or piece of wood in order to lay their eggs on. A common trait among brooders is that they will guard over their unborn offspring until they hatch. Typically the male adopts the role as the protector by standing guard while the female becomes the eggs’ caregiver. Once they are hatched, both parents will take an active role in tending the newborn.

Keeping a specific fish in a fish tank that is not large enough could have catastrophic results. A savvy aquarist wouldn’t think about attempting to keep an angel nano fish tank. To discover more fun filled facts on freshwater aquarium fish browse through my online fish guide.

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There are many things to consider when selecting an aquarium tank. One of them is the size of the aquarium. To determine the ideal size for you, you have to know the kind of fish that you are putting in the aquarium and exactly how many of them. Also, try to find out how big your fish can grow. If you buy a fish without finding out its maximum growth size, you may someday find your aquarium tank too small or too crowded. Remember to choose the aquarium that will be big enough for all the fish at maximum growth size.

The amount of water that the fish needs is also a factor to look into. Follow this rule of thumb to find out how much water your fish will need. A fish that will grow to adult size of less than 4 inches, like guppies and tetras, will require a gallon of water for every inch of fish. A large fish like the cichlid will need at least 55 gallons and the angelfish, at least 29 gallons. It is essential that your aquarium tank is able to hold the amount of water that all your fish need.

Size of aquarium tanks vary from two and a half gallons to several hundred gallons. They come in various shapes too: rectangle, round, bow front, hexagonal or cylindrical. If you’re a beginner, you might want to buy the prepackaged kit that contains all that a beginner will need to start. This may include the aquarium outfitted already with filter, heater and light. Pick the smaller tanks for starters for minimum maintenance. Just remember, not too small or your fish will not have enough room to be healthy.

You will have two choices in materials for your aquarium tank. Glass tanks are generally less expensive and more available. Glass will not scratch easily but can be very heavy. They also are not as flexible as acrylic so shapes are limited. Acrylic tanks, on the other hand, being lighter, boast of a wider range of shapes and sizes that you can pick from. They are, however, more expensive and more easily scratched.

A filled aquarium will weigh about 10 pounds for every gallon of water. So a large aquarium will really be very heavy. Bear this in mind when choosing your stand. You do not want to put it on anything that might collapse under the heavy weight. There are specialized aquarium stands built in metal or wood that could provide the necessary support for your aquarium. Some even have compartments for your aquarium supplies. Be sure also that your aquarium comes with a lid or a ‘hood’ and that it’s the right size for your tank.

After making your choice and purchasing an aquarium tank, put it in a bathtub or your backyard and fill it with the right amount of water. Connect and plug all the equipment like the heater and the filter and let it stand overnight. You should always do this before putting in the fish to determine if there are leaks and that your equipment works properly. With the correct aquarium tank size and type, and proper precautions in ensuring the safety of your fish, you guarantee them a happy and healthy life in your aquarium tank.

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