Angel Fish

There has been some controversy about the scientific name of Angel Fish. Some experts think we may even have a hybrid of both wild species. There is at least one more species of Angel Fish named Pterophyllum altum.
Comments. There are veil tail and regular tail Angel Fish varieties and an assortment of different color varieties. All Angels are wonderful aquarium fish. Although they are a little delicate when small, they grow fast and get stronger. They are not difficult to breed and many aquarists enjoy raising the babies.
Appropriate Home. A large tall aquarium with at least 29 gallons of water, an exterior power filter with a BIO-Wheel, a maximum of 1/4 inch of gravel, and an aquarium heater adjusted to so the water temperature is between 78 and 82 degrees F. Click here for more about warm water aquariums.
Recommended Diet. Floating Flake Food for Tropical Fish such as TetraMin and a few Tetra Freeze Dried Blood Worms. Both foods are available in most pet stores and in Wal-Mart. Feed Angel Fish an occasional treat of live Black Worms and live or frozen brine shrimp. Click here for more about feeding fish.

You can feed your Angel Fish a few live Black Worms. The ideal amount seems to be three or four Black Worms every other day. Be sure the worms are very clean and in good condition. Never feed questionable worms to any fish.
Do not feed worms to Mbunas, Haplochromis, Tropheus, or Frontosa Cichlids.
Compatibility. Either one Angel to an aquarium or more than 3. Angels are Cichlids and like most Cichlids, if you keep just 2 or 3 in the same aquarium, the strongest one will make the others miserable. Angels do very well in a group with 6 or more Angels in a large aquarium with at least 50 gallons of water that is at least 18" deep.
Here is a list of tropical fish that are usually compatible with Angel Fish: Silver Dollars, Bigger Tetras such as Black Skirts, Serpaes, and Silver Tips, Corydoras Catfish, Livebearers such as Platies, Swordtails, and Mollies, but not Guppies which may be eaten by Angels, and one Plecostomus Catfish.
Angel Fish are often seen in aquariums with Gouramis, Giant Danios, Rainbows, a group of Bala Sharks, and a group of Clown Loaches.
As Angel Fish grow larger, they become very efficient at stalking and eating small fish like Guppies and Neon Tetras. So they are not compatible tank mates for these fish.
Angels are susceptible to a disease called Hole in the Head.
Size and Life Span. Angel Fish can grow to be 12" tall and probably taller. I have seen Angel Fish with bodies 6" in diameter, but it is unusual for them to grow this big. Angel Fish are known to have lived for at least 10 years, and with exceptionally good care they can probably live even longer.

Breeding Angels :  You said that you want to get a pair of Angels. The best way to do this is to get about 10 young Angels and put them in an aquarium with about 50 gallons of water. This aquarium should also be at least 18" tall. Raise the Angels up together. When their bodies about about 1.5" to 2" in diameter, they will pair off, select a territory, and work together to chase the other fish out of their territory.
From a group of 10 Angels, we usually got three or even four pairs. But if you try to purchase a pair of mature Angels, often the pair bond will be lost when you move them. So we recommend that you get small Angels about 3" tall. Raise them up together and allow them to choose their own mates.