Argentine Humphead
Gymnogeophagus balzanii
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 12–20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 300 litres
- Temperature
- 18–26 °C
Species profile
Altum Angelfish
Pterophyllum altum
Common names: Altum Angelfish, Orinoco Altum
Recognized speciesCichlids
Adult size
Up to 22 cm
Typical adult length 18–22 cm.
Up to 22 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Advanced shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
The tallest wild angelfish, requiring a deep, warm, very soft aquarium and careful acclimation.
Appearance and Identification
A very tall, laterally compressed angelfish with a strongly concave forehead, long dorsal and anal fins, reddish bars, and dark vertical bands.
True P. altum has a deeper body, a pronounced predorsal notch, and a different bar pattern from P. scalare. Many commercial “altums” are scalare forms or hybrids.
External sex differences are weak outside spawning. Mature males may have a broader head and females a fuller abdomen, but the breeding papilla is more dependable.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 800–1,200 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 400–600 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 400 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 150 cm
- Minimum group size
- 5
- Recommended group size
- 6
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Low
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Use a mature aquarium at least 70 cm tall with open vertical swimming space, tall wood, broad-leaved plants, subdued light, and gentle filtration. A group of six reduces pair fixation and stress.
Behaviour and Tankmates
A stately middle-level cichlid that is shy when unsettled and territorial after pairs form.
Young fish should be raised in a group. Mature pairs may separate from the group and defend vertical spawning sites.
Pair aggression is usually focused around eggs and larvae but can be serious in cramped tanks.
Keep with calm warm-water fish that do not nip fins. Very small fish and shrimp may be eaten. Avoid boisterous cichlids and fast feeders.
Water Parameters
Wild fish are associated with warm, very soft acidic water. Captive-raised stock may tolerate slightly higher values but should still be kept low in minerals.
Parameter caveat
Acclimate slowly and quarantine carefully. Do not force pH downward in mineral-rich water, and avoid cool water changes.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
Daraz NepalCheck availability on Daraz
Feeding
- Diet types
- Carnivore, Insectivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Live baby brine shrimpUseful for conditioning adults and feeding juveniles; rinse before use.
- Daphnia, cyclops, or mosquito larvaeSmall moving prey encourages natural feeding behaviour.
- Frozen brine shrimp or mysisOffer thawed portions sized for the fish.
- High-quality cichlid micro-pelletUse as part of a varied diet after the fish accepts prepared food.
A micropredatory omnivore that takes insect larvae, crustaceans, worms, and prepared foods.
Offer small meals two or three times daily. Wild imports may need live or frozen foods before accepting pellets.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Egg Layer, Substrate Spawner
- Breeding difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding temperature
- 29 °C
- Breeding pH
- 5.5
- Brood or egg count
- Several hundred eggs, with clutch size varying greatly by female size.
- Incubation
- 3 days
- Parental care
- Biparental care
- Baby foods
- Newly hatched brine shrimpPrimary food for free-swimming fry; feed small rinsed portions several times daily.
- MicrowormsUseful supplementary food for small fry near the substrate.
- Fine powdered fry foodUse sparingly and remove uneaten material.
A biparental substrate spawner that places eggs on vertical wood, leaves, or broad surfaces. Both parents fan and defend the clutch and larvae.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Colombia, South America, Venezuela
- Natural habitat
- Blackwater, Clearwater, Floodplain, Freshwater River
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Aquarium, Freshwater Aquarium, Large Freshwater Aquarium, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Advanced
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Pterophyllum
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Species group
- Cichlids, Fish, South American Cichlids
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- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 4–7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 60 litres
- Temperature
- 25–30 °C
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- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 6–9 cm
- Minimum tank
- 80 litres
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C
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- Care level
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- Adult size
- 45–75 cm
- Minimum tank
- 1800 litres
- Temperature
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