Altum and Scalare

**geoffrey** · 29th May 2003, 09:10

Hi,

I saw in Amano's book, Angels that look like Altums but turn to be Pterophyllum scalare &quot;Wild&quot;. Made a check here and they appear quite the same from my inexperience eyes.

Could we tell them apart? Although they appear quite the same, could the Scalare be a cheaper alternative for Altum or are they just as dear?

**Simon** · 29th May 2003, 09:18

Scalare 'wild'

Altum angel

differences in shape, stripes, mouth area

**geoffrey** · 29th May 2003, 09:34

Thanks Simon. Ok, they are different. Is price different too? My guess is, Scalare just as expensive, right? Which LFS that I have missed may have them?

**Simon** · 29th May 2003, 09:52

price depends.. can be cheap.. but i defintely like Altums more

**vinz** · 29th May 2003, 10:19

Someone can confirm this? I have the impression that most of the coloured/patterned angelfishes we see at LFSes are P. scalare hybrids?

**geoffrey** · 29th May 2003, 10:20

Can't afford real Altums, may want to resort to imitations. Scalare if cheaper, I feel, is a good substitute for a pauper like me : )

BTW, has anyone come across it in a LFS?

**Simon** · 29th May 2003, 10:24

vinz, I think they r categories under Scalare... seen in the Aqualog book for Discus and Angel fishes.. almost all of what we see in LFS is listed in the book..

**checkerboard** · 29th May 2003, 10:35

yupz, most of those coloured or patterned angels are scalare that was hybridized sometime ago to different patterns like blushing, marbled, longfin, etc etc...

altum will usually appear &quot;taller&quot;, has a slight upturn snout (best way to identify an altum) oso i believe that it is less broad... personally i prefer altums, they are more elegant looking...

scalare... biotope has them now... wild... but they cost 65 each... altums maybe cheaper actually then coz think some are selling for $40...

**vinz** · 29th May 2003, 10:39

But are they natural strains or man-bred variants?

What I really meant was that I'm under the impression that the wild/natural P. scalare has the typical silver/white with black bars.

I was actually looking for the P. leopoldi at one time...

**geoffrey** · 29th May 2003, 10:48

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On 5/29/2003 10:35:54 AM

scalare... biotope has them now... wild... but they cost 65 each... altums maybe cheaper actually then coz think some are selling for $40...
----------------

Oops, bye bye Scalare &quot;Wild&quot;.

**DEA** · 1st Jun 2003, 18:14

lol
yeah
apparently there're quite a few species
there's one more which i can't remember the name
i find that there's not much point in getting the wild scalare, as they look pretty much the same as the ordinary angels