By KevinThe wild angel of the Orinoco
The altum angelfish is what people picture when they imagine an angelfish at its most dramatic: a fish almost as tall as a paperback, with a steep, noble forehead and trailing fins, drifting through warm blackwater. It is the wild-form species Pterophyllum altum, collected mainly from the Orinoco basin — and it is a genuinely different proposition from the common angelfish most shops sell.
We stock altums because experienced keepers ask for them, and we're honest about what they need. If you're setting up your first or second tank, the common angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is the right fish for you. If you have a tall, mature, soft-water tank and the experience to match, read on.
Why altums are an advanced fish
Three things make altums demanding. First, height — adults stand 25–30 cm tall, so a standard community tank is too shallow; they need 60 cm of height or more. Second, water — warm (28–30 °C), very soft and acidic, and spotlessly clean, which means generous water changes and a mature filter. Third, provenance — most are wild-caught, so they arrive needing patient, careful acclimation and stability rather than tinkering.
The single most common altum mistake is treating them like the common angelfish. Scalare angels tolerate average community water; altums do not. If you want the angelfish look without the demands, choose scalare — there's no shame in it, and they're a wonderful fish.
Tank mates
Altums want calm company that shares their warm, soft water and won't nip their fins. Cardinal tetras and rummy-nose tetras are the textbook choice — both come from the same kind of soft, warm South American water — alongside peaceful corydoras on the bottom.
See our angelfish care guide and cardinal tetra care guide for setup detail, and angelfish types to compare altum with the scalare strains.
Buying altum angelfish in the UK
Altums are a premium, often wild-caught fish, and we ship them with extra care: extended bagging, extra heat packs outside summer, and dispatch only Tuesday or Wednesday for Wednesday–Thursday arrival, all under our live arrival guarantee. On arrival, acclimate slowly and patiently into a warm, soft, mature tank — altums punish a rushed introduction more than almost any fish we sell.
Explore further: angelfish, South American cichlids, rare & collector fish, or the full tropical fish for sale UK range.
