Can help to ID these angel fish

**raynict** · 9th Nov 2009, 22:48

I have this group of angel fish but not sure if they are Peruvian or Altum? Can anyone help to ID it? Thanks.

**stormhawk** · 10th Nov 2009, 00:49

I don't think those are P. altum. They are probably wild-type scalare.

**cory** · 10th Nov 2009, 08:11

I second to stormhawk's view. Should be either wild P.scalare or Peruvian.

Attached of my altum's pic for your reference.

**colboig** · 11th Nov 2009, 12:31

Sorry, not a expert with Angel. How to differentiate the a wild and not wild? Also does anyone knows where got sell big Angel fishes? I remember 20-30 years ago, the Angel fishes are huge...

**barmby** · 14th Nov 2009, 12:27

It is very distinct as can be told from the pictures given above. Altum 's finnage practically straight and solid. While captive angel finnage is not so 'stand-up' compared with Altum. Scalare is more tricky though. As for big angel fish, LFS will probably not sell them because the breeder will not supply it to the distributor. Reason being, big angel fishes are breedable. Once they achieve good size, the breeder will keep them while their siblings were already being sold off when they are very young. This is known as QC

Keep the potential young ones, and sell off the rest. Minimise space and concentrate on the potential little things.

**stormhawk** · 14th Nov 2009, 13:14

If an Angel keeper really wants a challenge, try Pterophyllum leopoldi aka the old P. dumerilii. The last time I saw them in Singapore, was a big shoal in Qian Hu's display tank, near the shed with all the aquarium equipments for sale. I've not seen them since. I can frankly say that they are probably rarer than P. altum in the hobby.

**bossteck** · 14th Nov 2009, 19:51

Stormhawk,

How long ago was it that you saw P. leopoldi?
I definitely agree that they are rarer than P. altums here in Singapore.

**stormhawk** · 15th Nov 2009, 08:09

About a year or two ago when I last visited Qian Hu's farm at Jalan Lekar.

Oddly, I had a pleasant surprise at C328 today. I saw 2 leopoldi at the usual tank with the altums. One was in the tank, the other was still bagged. IMO, it is more beautiful than the wild scalare.

I still have a breeding article for the leopoldi from an old issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist.