fish · Cichlidae

Altum angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

Wild range: Upper Rio Negro drainage and upper Orinoco tributaries (Rio Inírida, Rio Atabapo) of Colombia and Venezuela, south to about Puerto Ayacucho; blackwater and clearwater forest rivers (South America)

At a glance: Altum angelfish care

Compiled reference information. Review the care notes and original sources below.

What temperature is listed for Altum angelfish?

The compiled profile lists 28.0–31.0 °C for Altum angelfish (Pterophyllum altum). Check the original sources below for context and differing recommendations.

What tank size is listed for Altum angelfish?

The profile lists a minimum tank volume of 90.0 US gallons (340.0 liters). Volume alone does not establish suitability; consider dimensions, group size and other inhabitants alongside the full care notes.

What pH is listed for Altum angelfish?

The compiled profile lists a pH of 4.8–6.2. Review the cited care sources alongside the other water parameters in this profile.

Natural habitat

Slow to still blackwater and clearwater forest rivers of the upper Orinoco and upper Rio Negro with extremely soft, tannin-stained, warm (≈28–31°C) acidic water; fish shelter among submerged roots, fallen branches, and leaf litter over fine sand (Seriously Fish, FishBase, Tankora, ForAquarium, NT Labs).

Where they are found

Catalog primary locked as Pterophyllum altum Pellegrin, 1903 per trade/ITIS/FishBase and Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes (Current status Valid as Pterophyllum altum Pellegrin 1903; original description Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Série 1) 9(3):124; type locality Atabapo, Río Orinoco, Venezuela; CoF spid 38421; FishBase SpecCode for P. altum; ITIS TSN 169846). Distinct species from the common trade angelfish Pterophyllum scalare (Heckel, 1840) — already live as slug angelfish — and from Pterophyllum leopoldi (Gosse, 1963); do not merge. Trade often mislabels tall-bodied P. scalare strains as “Altum”; true P. altum shows a steeper forehead with a supraorbital notch and greater body height (to ~35–40 cm tip-to-tip). Locality trade labels (Atabapo, Inírida, Orinoco, Rio Negro) are collection notes, not subspecies. IUCN Least Concern (FishBase cites assessment 2020-10-28).

Aquarium care

Advanced South American cichlid requiring a tall, spacious tank and stable soft acidic water — not a beginner angelfish (Seriously Fish, Tankora, ForAquarium, Practical Fishkeeping, NT Labs). Plan ≥90 US gal (~340 L) with ≥55–60 cm water-column height for a small group (Tankora ~350 L; PFK 120×50×50 cm ≈300 L; ForAquarium prefers 125+ gal for larger groups — locked 90 gal tall practical floor). Soft sand, vertical driftwood/roots, floating plants, dim light, and gentle diffused filtration; very soft acidic water 28–31°C, pH 4.8–6.2, GH ~1–5 (SF 28–32 / 4.8–6.2 / 0–5; FishBase wild 27–31 / 4.8–6.2 / 1–5; Tankora 28–31 / 4.5–6.5 / 1–6; ForAquarium 27–31 / 4.8–6.2 / 1–5; NT Labs 28–32 / 4.5–6.0; PFK 28–32 / pH <6 / negligible hardness — locked temp 28–31, pH 4.8–6.2, GH 1–5). Keep as a group of 5+ juveniles; bonded pairs become territorial when spawning. Excellent water quality (low nitrate) is mandatory; newly imported wild fish need slow, matched-parameter acclimation.

Feeding

Omnivore with a strong preference for protein-rich live and frozen invertebrates (bloodworm, Artemia, daphnia, mysis, mosquito larvae); wild-caught fish often refuse dry food until settled, then may wean onto quality cichlid/discus pellets (Seriously Fish, ForAquarium, NT Labs, Tankora, PFK). Feed small portions 2–3× daily; variety and live/frozen foods improve condition and breeding readiness.

Compatibility

Semi-aggressive cichlid: generally peaceful with suitably sized tankmates that share warm soft acidic water, but will eat fish small enough to fit in the mouth and pairs defend spawning sites (SF, ForAquarium, Tankora, NT Labs, PFK). Good companions: discus, larger tetras (rummy-nose, cardinals if large enough), Sterbai Corydoras, bristlenose. Avoid fin-nippers, hard-water African cichlids, and nano tetras. Distinct from common angelfish (P. scalare, slug angelfish) and Leopold’s angelfish (P. leopoldi). Not nano_ok.

Breeding

Captive breeding is rare and advanced (Seriously Fish, Tankora, ForAquarium, TFH). Raise a group of 6+ and allow a monogamous pair to form; soft acidic water (often pH <5.5, GH very low) and high temperatures (~28–31°C) with large matched water changes as rainy-season cues. Pair cleans a vertical surface; female lays adhesive rows (hundreds of eggs); hatch ~48–72 h; free-swim ~5–7 days; first foods Artemia nauplii. Parents may eat eggs — artificial rearing sometimes required. Distinct husbandry from easily bred P. scalare.

Sources

Compiled from multiple independent care sheets — not copied from a single site.