The Latin word for tall is altum, which correctly describes the Altum angelfish, the biggest of the freshwater angelfish variety. Altum angelfish come from from South America, in particular the Rio Orinoco river in Venezuela.
The Altums look is silvery with brownish upright stripes. This helps the Altum keep cover effortlessly between elongated stemmed plants growing in the Amazon river. Altums have a rather unique shaped mouth, which is rather pointed, and their forehead is sharply sloped. The first dark band runs through the eye; the second runs near the mid-section of the body, while the third runs from the tip of the dorsal fin, through the body, and to the tip of the anal fin. The final band runs on the caudal penuncle.
Being a such a sizable angelfish, they require a larger and taller tank. Tanks should be a minimum of 30″ tall and 4 ft long. The fish tank should be ornamented with sizable pieces of bogwood that if possible ought to reach the waters surface. Sizable leafed plants like Amazon swordsplants can also be helpful and are usually left alone.
The water ought to be kept in very soft water that is somewhat acidic. A pH level of 4.5-6.5 is suitable for Altum Angelfish. They favor very warm water and they are best kept in 28-30C / 82-86F. The nitrates levels ought to be kept very low and the water should be somewhat circulated to imitate the surroundings this variety are usually found in the wild. It is extremely essential to sustain high water quality to effectively keep this variety.
Unlike the common angelfish, the Scalare, Altums can be tough to keep and successfully raise in captivity. This is due chiefly to the fact that virtually all Altum sold are wild caught, not domestically farmed. Because of this they can more difficult to find and not a lot of individuals try and keep them.
Because they are wild caught fish, Altums can be challenging to come across at times. And one must be careful of fake Altums being sold. They can be tough to tell apart from Scalares if not well trained.
Altums generally do best by alone, but can be kept with other peaceful species from the matching river region, such a tetras and discus. Being cichlids, Altums can also be quite territorial in temperament. One must use caution when mixing fish with Altums. Even if from the same territory smaller fish will be consumed. They seem uniquely fond of neon and cardinal tetras.
Altums, similar to other angelfish, have an insatiable appetite. Since they are normally caught wild, live food is the favored cuisine. Most will readily accept other foods over time, such as frozen brine shrimp and blood worms.
Despite providing great water conditions and a good diet, Altum angelfish can be tough to raise and even more challenging to breed. Determining the sex can also be exceptionally tricky, as it is with nearly all of the angelfish species.
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Tags: Altum Angelfish, Angelfish, aquariums, fish Tanks, freshwater aquariums, tropical fish, Tropical Fish Information