🐠Angelfish: gear and buying guides

The angelfish is a majestic cichlid reaching 15 cm in length and sometimes 20 cm in height including its fins. Its silhouette demands a tall tank of at least 50 cm and a volume of 240 to 300 L for a small group, in soft water between 24 and 28 °C. Peaceful in appearance, it turns territorial when breeding and eats very small fish.

Profile : 15 cm long and up to 20 cm tall, 240 to 300 L for a group, water between 24 and 28 °C.

Angelfish gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  A carnivore with omnivorous leanings: cichlid pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and krill. Vary the diet to support its slow growth and lifespan of ten years or more.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Prefer soft, slightly acidic, well-filtered water with a 25 percent weekly change. Its long fins are vulnerable to nipping: avoid fin-nipping tankmates such as some barbs.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  Tall plants such as vallisneria or large sword plants, vertical roots and branches recreate its native habitat. It likes gliding slowly between vertical structures.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  A 240 to 300 L tank at least 50 cm tall, for a group of 5 to 6 juveniles or a bonded pair. Do not house it with neon tetras or shrimp, which it will eventually eat.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  Transport each adult in a tall, wide bag, as its fins bend and get damaged easily. Slow 45-minute acclimation in temperate water.

• 🧰 Accessories

  An external filter rated for 300 L, a 200 W heater, moderate lighting and a large net. Budget around 250 to 450 euros to equip the full tank.

Guides to read

• 60-litre aquarium kit: the full beginner budget with no nasty surprisesBedding & habitat

  How much does a 60-litre aquarium kit really cost? The full start-up budget, item by item: equipped tank, substrate, decor, water tests and consumables.

• Nano shrimp tank: the essential equipment to start off rightBedding & habitat

  What equipment does a nano shrimp tank need? Volume, gentle filtration, the right substrate and a full budget: the complete checklist for keeping Neocaridina.

• Betta tank of 20-30 litres: the ideal setup, step by stepBedding & habitat

  How do you set up a 20 to 30 litre betta tank? Low-flow filtration, heating, resting plants and a lid: the ideal setup explained in detail.

• Garden pond for goldfish: volume, equipment and budgetBedding & habitat

  How do you build a garden pond for goldfish? Minimum volume, frost-free depth, filtration and predator protection: the complete guide with budget.

• RO units and reverse osmosis water in aquariums: who actually needs it?Care & grooming

  Is reverse osmosis water essential for an aquarium? Find out who really needs an RO unit, how to remineralize and what budget to plan (unit or jerrycan).

• Water conditioner and starter bacteria: essential or just marketing?Care & grooming

  Water conditioner and starter bacteria: what do they actually do? Chlorine, heavy metals, faster cycling: what to buy and what to skip.

• Fertilizer and CO2 for aquarium plants: start simple, skip the lab setupToys & enrichment

  Do aquarium plants need fertilizer and CO2? The simple starter method: liquid fertilizer, easy plants, and when injected CO2 actually becomes worthwhile.

• Driftwood and rocks for aquariums: which ones are safe for your fish?Toys & enrichment

  Which driftwood and rocks are safe in an aquarium? Tannin-releasing woods, limestone rocks to avoid, the vinegar test and preparation: the complete guide.