Description
Scientific Name: Pterophyllum scalare
Common Name: Pinoy Blue Angelfish
Adult Size: 6 inches (15 cm) in body length; up to 8 inches (20 cm) tall including fins
Life Expectancy: 8–10 years (up to 12 with excellent care)
Habitat: Native to slow-moving rivers and floodplains in the Amazon Basin (Peru, Brazil, Colombia); typically found in soft, warm, plant-rich waters
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons for a pair; 55+ gallons for a small group or community
Ideal Temperature: 76–82°F (24–28°C)
pH Range: 6.0–7.5
Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard (3–12 dGH)
Temperament: Semi-peaceful; can be territorial when breeding
Best kept with peaceful or similarly sized fish
May eat very small tankmates (like neon tetras) as they grow
Omnivorous: Yes
Eats high-quality flake or pellet food as a staple
Supplement with frozen/live foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia
Feed 1–2 times daily; do not overfeed
