Blue Sapphire Angelfish

Blue Sapphire Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare "Blue Sapphire")

A selectively bred variant of the classic freshwater angelfish, prized for its soft blue-silver body colouration and elegant, tall finnage. With their graceful, slow-moving presence and distinctive vertical stripes, these cichlids make a striking centrepiece for taller, well-planted aquariums.

Care at a Glance:

• Minimum Tank Size: 150L+ tall tank (angelfish grow tall — height matters more than footprint)
• Temperature: 24–28°C
• pH Range: 6.0–7.5
• Water Hardness: Soft to moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive — peaceful when young, but can become territorial with age and during breeding
• Diet: Omnivore — flakes, pellets, frozen/live foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp), vegetable matter
• Max Size: 15cm body, up to 20cm tall including fins
• Lifespan: 10–15 years
• Care Level: Moderate (requires stable water quality and a tall tank)

Tank Mates: Peaceful community fish of similar size — rainbowfish, larger tetras (serpae, lemon, rummy-nose), and peaceful dwarf cichlids. Avoid small fish (neon tetras, fry) that may be eaten, and fin-nipping species that may harass their long fins.

Origin: South America — Amazon basin (selectively bred aquarium variant of the wild Scalare Angelfish, family Cichlidae)