Angelfish: Raising Your Aquarium Fish
The word angelfish brings to mind a scene out of a James Bond film. There’s a man on a sinking ship who thanks God he has angelfish because he is not and could not survive without them. In this movie, however, the man (playing the villain) was not an angelfish but rather a clownfish. The producers later dropped this detail to make the film funnier. However, this detail did not escape one of the top angelfish breeders’ attention in the world.
Angelfish are generally known as rainbow bass or charr fish. They are usually found in North America’s freshwater lakes, in streams and ponds, and some lakes in Europe. Pterophyllum, a tiny genus of freshwater fish belonging to the Clostridial family, is a familiar name to most aquarists about angelfish as well. All Pterophyllum varieties originate from the Amazon basin, Orinoco basin and various other water bodies in the Guiana Shield in central Brazil.
With a wide range of Pterophyllum varieties, including several very ornamental species, angelfish are a popular and easy to care for fish in the hobby. When these beautiful fish are cared for correctly, they will reward their owners with bright, white fish with lots of personalities. Many angelfish are kept as pets and, in many cases, show up in fancy saltwater aquariums. If you are new to keeping fish and are considering buying angelfish for your tank, you should learn how to care for these brine shrimp before purchasing any fish for your tank.
To begin with, freshwater angelfish like a spotless environment. This is why you should buy fresh eggs. Do not buy the brown eggs because they will not look any different, and they may end up dying during transport or hatch. As long as the eggs are clean, you can use any colored eggs to fill your tank; however, do not add too many as this may cause them to become competitive with other fish.
Freshwater angelfish are ambush predators, which means they hide in plain sight, waiting for their prey to pass by. There are two types of game they eat; the first is fry, tiny invertebrates that belong to the aquatic plant kingdom. The second is brine shrimp, which are cartilaginous fish. Fishes like brine shrimp are great additions to your freshwater aquarium because they are easy to care for and don’t compete with your fish. Plus, you can grow brine shrimp from fresh eggs.
Once you have selected the type of fish you wish to add to your tank, the next step is to choose the appropriate container for them. Freshwater angelfish cannot survive in a standard aquarium, and you will need to purchase a unique aquarium shaped like a rectangular box. Do not buy glass as it will not allow oxygen to get to the fish. Larger sizes of containers work well because the angelfish will be able to breathe easier. Ensure the bottom of the tank is smooth so they do not accumulate algae or calcium deposits which can also be detrimental for your fish.
Once you have everything set up, you should test the tank’s water quality before adding your freshwater angelfish tank. If it is not clear, then add some aquarium salt to bring the pH levels up. The filter should also be ready because you will now add the eggs to it. Start with a one percent concentration of the eggs and slowly increase it based on how the fish respond. When the water is clean and the filter is ready, the angelfish will be glad to nest. Once this happens, you can remove the live plants and put back the fish.
If you plan on breeding your angelfish, keep in mind that they are not hardy species and maybe killed by overfeeding. A great way to keep your angelfish healthy while breeding is by providing them with live foods and a protein-rich diet. It would help if you fed your freshwater angelfish a mix of fresh vegetables and fruits. It is essential to remove any excess fat from your chosen fish food before feeding it to the angelfish because this can make the meal too fatty for them. Remember that keeping aquarium fish is a learning experience, and you will probably want to raise angelfish for breeding at some point in the future.