Angel Fish - Altum angel and peruvian altum

Every angelfish enthusiast knows that altum angel is the holy grail of the angelfish keeping. The heckels of the Pterophyllum genus. The so-called deep angelfish derived its name from the fact that they can reach 30cm/12" in height while they only reach a length of 15cm/6". Altum angelfish is considerable more sensitive than the regular angelfish and needs a care similar to that of discus fish. They need due to their height a high aquarium tank and should never be kept in aquariums shallower then 75cm/ 30". The aquariums don’t need to be very large in other aspects and an aquarium that is 120 cm/ 4 ft long is sufficient. The aquarium should be decorated Large leafed plants like Amazon swords plants to mimic its natural habitat. The water should very soft somewhat acidic. A pH level of 4.5-6.5 is suitable for Altum Angelfish. They prefer very warm water and they are best kept in 28-30°C / 82-86°F. The nitrates levels should be kept very low.

Altum angelfish are suitable to be 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 since Altum angelfish as all angelfish seems very fond of eating these. They should never be kept with regular angelfish since they can hybridise with (Pterophyllum scalare)

Also, one shouldn’t be confused with the ‘other’ altum. The Peruvian altum is actually a Pterophyllum scalare, common angelfish, but with the appearance that of the altum. They posses the height and the length similar to altum than to common scalare. And since they are actually Pterophyllum scalare, their care is less difficult that the true altum. The Peruvian altum derived its name from the fact that they were found in the Peruvian water, while the true altum, Pterophyllum altum, were originated from the Orinoco.