SniperY
18-03-2006, 12:30 PM
Common name: Altum angel
Scientific name: Pterophyllum altum
Origin: Although some experts claim that the true altum is only known from the Rio Orinoco, museum records actually show that the species has been collected from a much wider geographic area, including: the upper Rio Negro basin in Brazil; the Rio Negro drainage in Venezuela; Laja Vendita in Venezuela and many parts of the Rio Orinoco and its tributaries from Colombia to Venezuela.
Size: Around 15cm/6" body length and often well over 30cm/12" in height. The latin name of this species means "tall".
Aquarium: Given the very tall height of this species, it really deserves a special aquarium with a much greater than normal depth. Aim for something of at least 120 x 45 x 75cm/4' x 18" x 30". Furnish the tank with pieces of bogwood. Plants can be added and are usually left alone. Altums mix well with most placid Amazonian fishes, including Discus and small tetras, though they may look upon very small fishes as potential snacks.
Water: This species can be found in both blackwater and whitewater (whitewater as in water that isn't black, not the stuff you go rafting on!). The pH and hardness varies with the season and the locality, but it usually falls somewhere between pH 4.0-6.5 with minimal GH and KH. Temperature for these fish is better on the warm side, say 27-30°C. P. altum is usually found in lakes or other slow flowing areas with deep water.
Breeding: Much more difficult to breed than the common angel, Pterophyllum scalare, but definitely not impossible. In fact, more than one fishkeeper has reported that the species can hybridise with scalare. Follow the same guidelines as for P. scalare and you probably won't go far wrong, although softer, more acidic conditions will probably be needed to get wild fish to spawn.
Sexing: Like P. scalare, these are very difficult to sex and most methods for doing so are not very reliable.
Similar species: At the moment, there are three valid species in the genus Pterophyllum: P. altum, P. scalare and P. leopoldi (which used to be called dumerillii). There are almost certainly other subspecies or species in the genus that have yet to be described. The so-called Peruvian altum, for example, closely resembles P. scalare but has a lower number of scales in the lateral series - it is erroneously sold as P. altum in the UK.
Identification: At least a couple of other species are sold as P. altum in the trade - P. scalare and the Peruvian altum, which is either a form of scalare or an undescribed species which is closely related to it. You can distinguish altum from scalare by looking at the pre-dorsal profile and the size and number of stripes, however, since there appear to be several other Pterophyllum that fall within altum and scalare, identification can be tricky. There's also a form found around Peru which has prominant spots on the flank. A group of these arrived in the UK in January 2005.
Availability: Real P. altum are only available sporadically and usually command a fairly high price when they are sold. The Peruvian altum (not actually an altum at all) is cheaper and more common in the trade.
Scientific name: Pterophyllum altum
Origin: Although some experts claim that the true altum is only known from the Rio Orinoco, museum records actually show that the species has been collected from a much wider geographic area, including: the upper Rio Negro basin in Brazil; the Rio Negro drainage in Venezuela; Laja Vendita in Venezuela and many parts of the Rio Orinoco and its tributaries from Colombia to Venezuela.
Size: Around 15cm/6" body length and often well over 30cm/12" in height. The latin name of this species means "tall".
Aquarium: Given the very tall height of this species, it really deserves a special aquarium with a much greater than normal depth. Aim for something of at least 120 x 45 x 75cm/4' x 18" x 30". Furnish the tank with pieces of bogwood. Plants can be added and are usually left alone. Altums mix well with most placid Amazonian fishes, including Discus and small tetras, though they may look upon very small fishes as potential snacks.
Water: This species can be found in both blackwater and whitewater (whitewater as in water that isn't black, not the stuff you go rafting on!). The pH and hardness varies with the season and the locality, but it usually falls somewhere between pH 4.0-6.5 with minimal GH and KH. Temperature for these fish is better on the warm side, say 27-30°C. P. altum is usually found in lakes or other slow flowing areas with deep water.
Breeding: Much more difficult to breed than the common angel, Pterophyllum scalare, but definitely not impossible. In fact, more than one fishkeeper has reported that the species can hybridise with scalare. Follow the same guidelines as for P. scalare and you probably won't go far wrong, although softer, more acidic conditions will probably be needed to get wild fish to spawn.
Sexing: Like P. scalare, these are very difficult to sex and most methods for doing so are not very reliable.
Similar species: At the moment, there are three valid species in the genus Pterophyllum: P. altum, P. scalare and P. leopoldi (which used to be called dumerillii). There are almost certainly other subspecies or species in the genus that have yet to be described. The so-called Peruvian altum, for example, closely resembles P. scalare but has a lower number of scales in the lateral series - it is erroneously sold as P. altum in the UK.
Identification: At least a couple of other species are sold as P. altum in the trade - P. scalare and the Peruvian altum, which is either a form of scalare or an undescribed species which is closely related to it. You can distinguish altum from scalare by looking at the pre-dorsal profile and the size and number of stripes, however, since there appear to be several other Pterophyllum that fall within altum and scalare, identification can be tricky. There's also a form found around Peru which has prominant spots on the flank. A group of these arrived in the UK in January 2005.
Availability: Real P. altum are only available sporadically and usually command a fairly high price when they are sold. The Peruvian altum (not actually an altum at all) is cheaper and more common in the trade.