Altum Angel Fish | Pterophyllum scalare

Altum angelfish ( Pterophyllum altum ) or commonly called altum manfish is the largest of the three species of angelfish/manfish that we know. They measure about 18 cm in length but are very tall, with broad fins that reach about 20 cm in height. However, there have been reports that this fish can grow up to 50 cm in the wild, and specimens in aquariums have been reported to grow to a height of more than 40 cm.

Although larger than its close and well-known relative, the silver angelfish ( Pterophyllum scalare ), this disc-shaped cichlid is both elegant and graceful. They are also known as the orinoco angelfish, atlum angel, and deep angelfish. This fish has a semi-aggressive temperament.

The altum manfish was first described by Pellegrin in 1903. They are found in rivers in South America; the Amazon River basin in the drainage of the upper Negro River and the Orinoco River basin in the tributaries of the upper Orinoco River (the Inírida and Atabapo rivers) to Puerto Ayacucho.

In the wild, these beautiful cichlids live in watersheds and floodplains where there is moderate flow of water, submerged trees and plant roots, and underwater vegetation. Altum manfish are more commonly found in very soft, well-oxygenated waters. As omnivores, these fish usually eat smaller fish and invertebrates and eat food particles in the water.

The altum manfish can be distinguished from other species of manfish by having a kind of indentation at the top of its snout instead of the more flat or slightly rounded forehead as in the other two manfish species. In terms of color and pattern, they are very similar to the silver body and dark brownish/red stripes.

The fin of the altum manfish may show a red stripe and the adult fish may have some red and turquoise spots on the dorsal fin. When aroused they will show black spots on the gill covers. Overall color differences are often subtle, but all P. altum have an indentation above the snout.

In the past this fish could only be obtained from capture in the wild. The high mortality rate over the years makes this fish practically difficult to breed. But recently they have been successfully bred by some hobbyists and captive specimens are now available alongside wild catches.

There is also a hybrid manfish developed by crossing P. altum with P. scalare and is called “orinoco altum.” These hybrids may or may not exhibit facial curvature characteristics like the original species, or may not have a lower degree of indentation.

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