Moderate
Pterophyllum scalare blue - Freshwater Angelfish
24–30°C · pH 6–7.5 · 150L
£9.99
Platinum White Angelfish is a pale captive colour morph of Pterophyllum scalare, with the same tall adult proportions and changing cichlid social behaviour as other freshwater angelfish. Plan a mature aquarium at least 100 cm long and tall, around 150 litres or more for a managed pair, with stable 25-28 C water and separation available if territorial conflict develops.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Pterophyllum scalare
Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.
Platinum White Angelfish is a pale captive colour morph of Pterophyllum scalare, with the same tall adult proportions and changing cichlid social behaviour as other freshwater angelfish. Plan a mature aquarium at least 100 cm long and tall, around 150 litres or more for a managed pair, with stable 25-28 C water and separation available if territorial conflict develops.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Freshwater angelfish are tall South American cichlids, not small community fish. OATA gives 120 litres as an industry floor for a compatible pair and says the aquarium must be sufficiently tall. We prefer planning around roughly 200 litres, a 100 × 40 cm footprint and about 50 cm height for an adult pair, with more space and an exit plan for a group.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Platinum White Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a captive colour morph of the freshwater angelfish, selected for a pale silver-white body and elegant tall fins. Platinum White describes appearance, not a separate species or a third part of the scientific name.
This is a substantial South American cichlid rather than a small fish for a short aquarium. Adults can reach about 15 cm total length, with long dorsal and anal fins creating much greater height. Plan the permanent aquarium around adult dimensions and pair behaviour, not the juvenile dispatch size.
| Scientific name | Pterophyllum scalare |
|---|---|
| Morph | Platinum White captive colour form |
| Adult size | About 15 cm total length, plus tall fins |
| Aquarium | At least 100 cm long and tall; around 150 L+ for a managed pair |
| Practical temperature | 25-28 C |
| Practical pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| Hardness | 5-12 dGH |
| Temperament | Measured outside breeding; territorial when a pair forms |
| Diet | Quality cichlid pellets or flakes with varied small frozen/live foods |
The published species range is broader at 24-30 C, pH 6.0-8.0 and 5-13 dH. Stability matters more than chasing an extreme. Ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero.
The size selector describes the fish at dispatch, not its final dimensions. Smaller juveniles need appropriately sized food and protected filter intakes; larger juveniles still require the same tall adult aquarium. Do not choose a variant solely because it fits a temporary tank.
Colour intensity can change as a juvenile settles and matures. A responsible listing can identify the Platinum White morph, but cannot guarantee an identical shade to a photograph, sex, pair compatibility or future spawning.
A settled fish should hold its fins open, maintain body weight, feed without panic and move freely through the full aquarium height. Record water tests and monthly photographs from a similar angle; slow weight loss, fin damage or exclusion can otherwise be missed.
Review the social layout as fish mature. Add visual barriers before conflict develops and preserve open swimming lanes. If one fish repeatedly loses food or shelter, separate it rather than treating persistent stress as normal hierarchy.
Platinum White is aquarium-strain terminology. It should not be presented as a wild locality, subspecies or guaranteed genetic description. Individual brightness can vary with age, lighting, background, condition and lineage. The listing also does not guarantee sex or a permanent pair.
A pale morph still needs the same adult space, warm stable water and social management as other P. scalare. Colour does not make the fish suitable for a nano aquarium or remove normal cichlid territorial behaviour.
The characteristic angelfish profile is tall and laterally compressed, with extended dorsal and anal fins and long pelvic-fin filaments. In the Platinum White morph the body is usually pale silver-white rather than strongly barred, although the exact brightness, sheen and amount of visible pattern can differ between individuals. Juvenile proportions and colour continue to develop after dispatch.
Background colour, aquarium lighting and stress can all change how pale fish look from one moment to the next. Use a neutral or planted setting that lets you inspect the eyes, body condition and fin edges clearly. A photograph is a useful guide to the morph, not a promise that every fish will have identical markings or display colour immediately after transport.
When comparing other freshwater angelfish, use the Angelfish guide for adult-care planning and browse the Angelfish collection to compare listed strains and sizes. Choose by the aquarium you can provide rather than colour alone.
Use a tall aquarium with open turning space, mature biological filtration and gentle to moderate flow. Upright wood and tall plants provide visual cover, while broad leaves or slate may become spawning surfaces. Avoid sharp decor that can catch long fins.
Juveniles can be raised in a group of five or more where space permits. As adults mature, a pair may defend a large territory. Keep a divider or second cycled aquarium ready rather than waiting for an excluded fish to suffer torn fins or lose access to food.
| Social plan | What to prepare | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Single specimen | Compatible community, tall cover and open feeding space | Choosing fin-nipping or very small companions |
| Managed pair | Around 150 L or more, a clear territory and backup separation | Breeding aggression toward tank mates or the weaker partner |
| Juvenile group | Five or more where a substantially larger aquarium allows equal access to food | Pair formation and exclusion as the fish mature |
A pair is not created simply by buying two unsexed juveniles. Sexing young angelfish reliably by external appearance is difficult, and two fish may fail to bond. A larger juvenile group can allow natural pair formation, but only when the keeper has enough permanent space and a realistic plan for fish that must be moved.
Maintain stable warm water around 25-28 C, pH 6.0-7.5 and 5-12 dGH. Test source water, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate; prepare temperature-matched replacement water and avoid sudden attempts to chase a perfect pH. Weekly partial changes are a starting rhythm, adjusted to measured waste and stocking.
| Temperature | 25-28 C, stable |
|---|---|
| pH | 6.0-7.5 practical target |
| Hardness | 5-12 dGH |
| Ammonia / nitrite | 0 mg/L |
| Nitrate | Controlled by measured maintenance |
Use the water matcher to compare source water and the tank-volume tool to calculate actual filled volume after substrate and hardscape.
Large, sudden water changes can be stressful when replacement water differs greatly in temperature or chemistry. Conversely, very small changes may be inadequate in a heavily stocked aquarium. Match replacement water closely, keep the routine consistent and adjust the volume according to measured conditions.
Use a quality cichlid pellet or flake as a measured staple and rotate suitable frozen or live foods such as cyclops, daphnia, brine shrimp and mysis. Feed adults once or twice daily and juveniles smaller portions more often. Spread food so every fish eats and remove leftovers.
| Food type | Role | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Complete cichlid pellet or quality flake | Daily nutritional base | Choose a particle size the fish can take cleanly and feed a measured amount |
| Frozen cyclops, daphnia, brine shrimp or mysis | Variety and feeding enrichment | Rotate in small portions; thaw appropriately and avoid adding excess packing liquid |
| Suitable live food | Occasional enrichment | Use only from a trusted source to limit parasite and contaminant risk |
| Oversized or rich food | Not a shortcut to growth | Avoid pieces that cannot be swallowed and portions that leave waste |
Watch the whole group rather than the quickest fish. Feed across more than one point if a dominant individual blocks access, and check that slower juveniles retain a gently rounded, not hollow, body profile. Persistent refusal to feed is a reason to test water and investigate health, not an invitation to keep adding different foods.
Choose peaceful warm-water companions too large to swallow and unlikely to nip long fins. Avoid Tiger Barbs, very small fish or shrimp that adults may treat as prey, and large aggressive cichlids. Compatibility can change sharply when a pair claims a spawning site.
| Companion | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Larger peaceful tetras | Possible when warm-water compatible and too large to swallow |
| Compatible Corydoras | Possible with adequate floor area and matching temperature |
| Fin-nipping barbs | Avoid |
| Tiny fish and shrimp | Avoid because adults may treat them as prey |
| Large aggressive cichlids | Avoid |
Use the Angelfish tank-mates guide and tank-mates tool as initial checks, then judge the actual aquarium and pair behaviour.
Another angelfish strain is not automatically a safe extra companion. Similar body shape can attract territorial attention, especially in a cramped aquarium. Compare adult dimensions, temperature needs, swimming level and feeding speed, then make sure decor breaks direct sight lines without reducing turning room.
Pterophyllum scalare is a substrate-brooding cichlid with biparental care. A pair may clean a broad leaf, slate or other upright surface before laying adhesive eggs. Do not assume every two fish will pair, or that an established bond is permanent. Separate excluded fish before injuries occur.
Spawning is not proof that the community layout is working. Parents may defend eggs, wrigglers and free-swimming fry over a widening area, while other residents repeatedly enter that territory. Decide in advance whether the display aquarium will remain a community or whether a bonded pair will be given dedicated accommodation.
Healthy fish hold their fins open, breathe evenly and feed readily. Clamped fins, rapid breathing, hollow body shape, white spots or persistent isolation need investigation. Test water before medication and quarantine new arrivals in matched warm water with vertical cover.
A quarantine aquarium should be fully heated and filtered, easy to observe and large enough for the fish to turn without damaging its fins. Use separate nets and equipment where possible. Do not medicate routinely without a diagnosis, and never mix treatments unless their compatibility is known.
This morph suits a keeper who can provide a mature, tall warm-water aquarium and is willing to manage changing cichlid relationships. It is a poor choice for a nano tank, a newly cycled aquarium, a community built around fin-nipping species, or a setup with no way to separate a rejected fish.
Before ordering, confirm the aquarium's actual filled volume, longest swimming dimension, internal height, water chemistry and adult stocking plan. The cycle tracker can help organise cycling evidence. For a locality-style alternative with the same accepted species identity, compare the Manacapuru Angelfish, while remembering that every strain still requires adult angelfish space and social management.
Prepare the mature aquarium before delivery, dim the lights and provide tall cover. Follow the supplied acclimation instructions, do not add transport water to the aquarium, and confirm that every fish can reach shelter and food after release.
The acclimation timer helps organise the process. Review packing and guarantee requirements on the live-fish delivery page.
No. The accepted species is Pterophyllum scalare; Platinum White is a captive colour-morph name.
Plan for about 15 cm total length plus substantial fin height, not the juvenile sale size.
Use a tall aquarium at least 100 cm long. Around 150 litres is a lower pair plan; groups require more.
No behaviour can be guaranteed. Adults may form a pair and defend a spawning territory.
Very small fish can become prey. Choose peaceful companions too large to swallow and avoid fin-nippers.
Do not assume albino genetics from the trade name or pale appearance. This listing identifies the fish only as Platinum White.
Two juveniles are not guaranteed to become a compatible pair. Provide enough room, monitor access to food and shelter, and keep cycled separation available if one fish is excluded.
Transport stress, background and lighting can temporarily alter apparent brightness and fin posture. Settle the fish in stable dim conditions and assess health and colour over time, while investigating any persistent distress signs promptly.
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