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Altum Angelfish

Orinoco Angelfish Family: Cichlidae

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Pterophyllum altum
(purchased as P. altum, but is possibly P. scalare) Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   Despite its large size (up to 9"), the Altum Angelfish is a pretty peaceful cichlid!

   The largest of all the angelfish species, the Altum Angelfish or Orinoco Angelfish is a graceful disk shaped cichlid. Being a bit timid, it can be frightened by shadows and fast movements. This is especially true when first acquired, but once acclimated it is a friendly personable fish. This is considered a community fish, but it is a cichlid and may not be as sociable with smaller fish. They will school peacefully when they are young, but tend to pair off and become more territorial when they are older.

   Though very similar in appearance to the natural form of its close and well known relative, the common Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare, the Altum Angelfish are virtually all wild caught. They are delicate fish with a history of having a high mortality rate. They are moderately difficult to keep, but will feel most at home and comfortable in a warmer aquarium that has hardy plants placed around the inside perimeter. Provide some rocks and roots but keep an open area in the center for swimming.

For more Information on keeping freshwater fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Altum Angelfish or Orinoco Angelfish was described by Pellegrin in 1903. They are found in rivers in South American; the Amazon River basin in the upper Negro River drainage and the Orinoco River basin in tributaries of the upper Orinoco River (Inírida and Atabapo rivers) to Puerto Ayacucho.

Status:
   This species is not listed on the IUCN Red List.

Description:
   The Altum Angelfish is very similar to the wild form of its close relative the common Angelfish Pterophyllum scalare. However, it isn't captive bred and does not have varieties. Its body is silver with a greenish tint, has four dark broad vertical bars, and a few faint bars. It is also larger than its relative, both in length and in height, and has a steeper forehead. The body is laterally compressed with a distinctive diamond shape and pointed snout. They have oversized extended dorsal and anal fins, these and the tail fin are long and flowing. In mature fish the tail fin can develop streamers on the outside corners. The Pelvic (ventral) fins are very long and delicate.

Size - Weight:
   The Altum Angelfish reaches a length of about 9 inches (23 cm) in length.

Care and feeding:
   Since they are omnivorous, the Altum Angelfish will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food or pellet everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat. You can even feed them lettuce or spinach. Feed mosquito larvae sparingly as they will tend to overeat it, which could kill them.
   A minimum 55 gallon aquarium is okay for a single fish, though a larger tank would be suggested if keeping more. They need good water movement along with very strong and efficient filtration. As they come from a natural environment with soft well oxygenated water, peat-filtered water is preferred.
Provide hardy plants placed around the inside perimeter along with some rocks and roots, but keep an open area in the center for swimming. They prefer subdued lighting. These fish do not burrow and will not damage plants as much as other cichlids.
   The Altum Angelfish can be rewarding to keep for aquarists that are observant and diligent in providing care. These fish are sensitive to changes in water chemistry and will deteriorate under poor water conditions. They are subject to infections as well as other diseases that ail all freshwater fish. Do water changes of 15 to 20% a week depending on bio load.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
  These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: 2-10° dGH
   Ph: 4.5 - 5.8
   Temp: 78 - 84° F (26 - 29° C)

"Silver" Angelfish Photo © Animal-World

Social Behaviors:
   Though they are considered a community fish, Altum Angelfish may get territorial as they get older. They are reportedly a more peaceful fish than other angelfish species, but being in the cichlid family smaller fish may not do well with them. As they mature they will pair off, developing a strong nuclear family, and defend a territory in which to breed. A nice thing about the Altum Angelfish is that they don't burrow or disturb plants!

Sexual Differences:
   There are no distinguishable differences except in breeding season, then the papilla on the male is pointed and on the female is blunt.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   The Altum Angelfish is a difficult fish to breed. For years it was considered impossible to breed, however more recently it has been successfully bred by some hobbyists but is still not commercially developed.
   These fish are egg layers.The female prefers to spawn on submerged roots and tree branches, laying up to 1000 eggs. If the parents don't eat the eggs, the larvae and fry are carefully guarded. See the general description of how to breed Cichlids in Breeding Freshwater Fish.

Availability:
   As they have become more frequently imported, Altum Angelfish or Orinoco Angelfishare regularly available online and in fish stores. They are more costly than the common Angelfish, ranging between $20.00 to $40.00 USD.

Author: Clarice Brough, CFS

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Latest Comments
This is indeed a scalare, as Phill has mentioned. It is not even a scalare type that would cause any doubt. Anyone familiar with Pterophyllum altum would know that. Dave Best 2008-12-21
The photos of "Altum Angelfish" that are credited to David Brough, are not of Pterophyllum Altum. They are of one of the Scalare variants, these could only be confused with Altum by somebody who had never seen an Altum. Several Scalare variants are sold by the Tropical fish industry as "Peruvian Altum" they are beautiful fish, but whatever you want to call them they are still Scalare Angels. Editor's note: This comment may or may not true, but as this fish was purchased from an importer as an Altum Angelfish, and has the Altum markings, we will hold with this until someone submits a more definite picture. With all the possible inter-mixing of angelfish and the variants found even in nature, experts cannot even say if the 'scalare' we see in the pet trade are actually Scalare. Phill Austen 2008-07-31
I have a small Altum Angelfish thats 2 inches, which i bought 3 days ago. The first few days it was shy and hid behind the filter. After that it came out and bit my plants and another smaller angelfish. Gina 2007-10-14

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Author: David Brough. CFS.