Angelfish Types. Which To Choose?

[FishFanatic04]

I have a 75g South American biotope in the works. I am carefully planning my stock around a group of 6 angelfish. My big problem is what angelfish?

I know I wanted a wild type, but now I am seeing a lot of choices and I'm internally battling over it. Any opinions are very welcome. Keep in mind please the future breeding is the biggest goal.


1. Manacapuru Wilds. Lacking the orange/red coloration typical of this type.

2. Silver 75% Wild-cross resulting from 50% Peruvian wild crossed to 100% Manacapuru Wild. 50% Contain a gene for Blue and 50% a gene for Stripeless (ghost) {veils available}

3. Wild Peruvian scalare x Platinum {veils available}

4. Double Dark Black {veils available}



Any thoughts? I can also choose a "wild-type" angel, but they come with no information on the breeding lines.

A mix? ugh help! lol

 

[Tolak]

All are good choices, solid lines seeing as they appear to come from Angels Plus. What's the goal of the breeding program?

 

[FishFanatic04]

I read somewhere that you had recommended Angel's Plus, and that's how I found the site. The first goal is to see if I get a breeding pair and then if I can successfully grow out fry. It's purely for my enjoyment as a hobbyist at this point.

I do like to plan ahead though and want to choose them carefully, if I am successful then there will be a small profit in it.

 

[mattlee]

just checked out that site. i wish we had something like that in the UK.....

as you probably would have guessed i would go for the wild peruvians mine are looking real nice now and couldnt find another angel that looks better tbh.

the wilds do seem to be a bit more aggressive than the non wild angels from what ive kept but nothing too harsh just a natural cichlid thing. i may have just kept commercial wimps but my wilds do seem more fiesty.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Yours areeee lovely! I like the Manacapuru a lot too, so maybe I should get the crosses. The offspring has a lot of possibilities and seems like it would be fun to see what they turn out like. {IF any breed that is, lol}

I'm not too worried about aggression. Like my kids, anybody misbehaves and they can sit in the time-out corner {tank}

 

[FishFanatic04]

I am planning Bolivians with my angels as well. How many bolivians do you have?

 

[Biulu]

Hi FF, I do not remember your water, but I understand that wild angels need softer water and are not that tolerant to harder water than the bred ones. Something to think about before you order.

 

[gregswimm]

If you can find them, P. leopoldi are the proverbial "sh!t". Don't get those dirty hybrid/designer fish, get yourself some pure blooded Pterophyllum, you won't be disappointed. Besides those captive bread fish really no longer have fry caring skills as a lot of it has been breed out. Pterophyllum leopoldi are amazing. Leopoldi is Latin for amazing fish (probably). And I wouldn't trust anyone trying to sell Pterophyllum dumerilii, because there is no such fish .

Edit: found some: Looks like the real deal, but in stress coloration.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Hi FF, I do not remember your water, but I understand that wild angels need softer water and are not that tolerant to harder water than the bred ones. Something to think about before you order.

I have been thinking about that. One thing is that I wanted to make sure I have captive bred fish. True wild caught fish would never do well in my water as it is at the higher end of their acceptable range in hardness and ph. I also don't want to worry about introducing parasites from a wild fish. My fish purchases are being planned carefully based on source.


I am testing a few ways to naturally soften my water, I'm adding Canadian peat to my filter first. I'm adding the angelfish last as I want a nicely matured tank. I will know for sure then if I can have a nice stable water level for them. My water got more acidic over time as it matured before. After we move if the water isn't soft enough I will be buying a reverse osmosis unit.

 

[Biulu]

You are thinking about everything FF! A few months ago we had a speaker at our local aquarium society from the US; a guy that has been breeding almost anything and he said that Canadian peat was the best...

 

[FishFanatic04]

I hope I am thinking of everything at least. The funny thing about the peat is that it comes as a 3.5 FOOT x 3.5 FOOT block for $28. I'll never run out in my lifetime. lol The place where I am buying it is an old country welding/garden center/hardware store/ paintball place. And the owner has an angelfish tank. It was great. Shes ordering in some slate for me as well.

 

[gregswimm]

Hi FF, I do not remember your water, but I understand that wild angels need softer water and are not that tolerant to harder water than the bred ones. Something to think about before you order.

I have been thinking about that. One thing is that I wanted to make sure I have captive bred fish. True wild caught fish would never do well in my water as it is at the higher end of their acceptable range in hardness and ph. I also don't want to worry about introducing parasites from a wild fish. My fish purchases are being planned carefully based on source.


I am testing a few ways to naturally soften my water, I'm adding Canadian peat to my filter first. I'm adding the angelfish last as I want a nicely matured tank. I will know for sure then if I can have a nice stable water level for them. My water got more acidic over time as it matured before. After we move if the water isn't soft enough I will be buying a reverse osmosis unit.

FF, this is why we quarantine . I always treat my fish in quarantine for internal/external parasites. The QT tank is always dossed with copper. If you keep your parameters consistent the fish should adapt to your water. Peat is great in your filter, I also can highly recommend adding mopani wood to your tank and remove the carbon in your filter to let the tannis rise naturally, this will turn your water pis colored but the fish love it.

 

[mattlee]

ive had no issues with my wilds in harder water. i dont use ro or peat etc just good old tap water and they are fine so i wouldnt worry about that too much. i have 7 bolivian rams in with my angels and they spawned the other day eggs didnt last though as there are too many hungry mouths in the tank. see my journal for pics
i also have 4 F1 leopoldi angels which are indeed very nice but not a touch on the peruvians in my eyes

 

[FishFanatic04]

Thanks Mattlee. I am not planning to go to extraordinary measures, that's why I am not considering an RO unit unless the water when I move is rock hard. I have had Angelfish in my water here already and they were my healthiest and liveliest fish at the end. I am using the peat to just make things more comfy for them.

I am seriously considering the Wild Peruvian scalare x Platinum or the cross-breed. Would you choose the veil tail or normal?

 

[mattlee]

personaly i would go for the normal type. the veil tails arent my cup of tea tbh