The freshwater angelfish is a striking cichlid native to the slow-moving, densely vegetated rivers and floodplains of the Amazon Basin. Its laterally compressed, disc-shaped body and elongated dorsal and ventral fins give it an unmistakable triangular silhouette that allows it to hide among reed stems and submerged roots. Angelfish are devoted parents that guard their eggs and fan them with their fins to oxygenate them.
About the Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
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💡 Fun Facts
01
Angelfish can recognize their own reflection in a mirror, suggesting a level of self-awareness rare among fish.
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Both parents take turns fanning and guarding the eggs, and will move the hatched larvae to pre-dug pits in the substrate.
03
Their vertical black stripes are not fixed — they can intensify or fade within seconds depending on mood and social context.
04
Angelfish use their pectoral fins like hands to precisely maneuver through dense vegetation at very slow speeds.
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In the wild, angelfish have been recorded living over 15 years, substantially longer than the typical aquarium lifespan.
📍 Where to Find This Animal
Habitat Types:
Tropical Freshwater Rivers
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