Easy to intermediate
Chocolate Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
£13.99
A natural-style Peruvian locality form of Pterophyllum scalare for mature, warm planted aquariums with calm medium-sized tank mates.
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
A natural-style Peruvian locality form of Pterophyllum scalare for mature, warm planted aquariums with calm medium-sized tank mates.
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.
The graceful freshwater angelfish is a centrepiece fish for mid-to-large community tanks. Striking finnage, easy to moderate care. UK delivery available.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Rio Itaya Angelfish is a Peruvian locality form of Pterophyllum scalare, the classic freshwater angelfish. This listing is for the Rio Itaya trade form, valued for its tall triangular outline, silver body, dark vertical bars and warm bronze tones that show especially well in a mature planted aquarium.
It is best treated as a graceful South American cichlid rather than a tiny community fish. Give it warm, stable water, good vertical swimming height and peaceful tank mates that are too large to be mistaken for food. In return, it becomes a calm centrepiece fish with the slow, deliberate movement that makes angelfish so popular in display aquariums.
The attraction here is not an exaggerated colour morph. The Rio Itaya Angelfish keeps the natural Pterophyllum scalare look: a compressed, sail-like body, extended dorsal and anal fins and strong vertical barring. That shape gives height to planted layouts and looks especially good against dark wood, broad leaves and shaded stems.
“Rio Itaya” refers to the locality name used in the aquarium trade. Unless a supplier explicitly sells a fish as wild-caught, it should be treated as a locality-type aquarium strain rather than a guaranteed wild specimen. The care should still follow the warm, soft-to-neutral South American setup used for Pterophyllum scalare.
| Scientific name | Pterophyllum scalare |
|---|---|
| Trade name | Rio Itaya Angelfish |
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Adult size | Around 15 cm body length; taller when fins are included |
| Minimum aquarium | 150 litres or larger, with good height |
| Temperature | 24-30°C; keep stable and avoid sudden swings |
| pH | 6.0-7.5 preferred; avoid extremes |
| Hardness | Soft to moderately hard, roughly 3-15 dGH |
| Diet | Quality flakes, small cichlid granules, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and daphnia |
| Temperament | Generally peaceful, but still a cichlid and territorial when pairing or spawning |
Angelfish need height more than they need a racing lane. Choose a taller aquarium where the fish can hold its fins naturally without constantly brushing the surface or plants. A planted layout with Amazon swords, Vallisneria, taller stem plants, driftwood and open mid-water space suits this fish better than a cramped, busy hardscape.
Use gentle to moderate filtration and avoid blasting the tank with strong direct flow. In the wild, Pterophyllum scalare is associated with quieter, vegetated water, so a calm display with shaded areas is more useful than a high-current river layout.
A stable aquarium is more important than chasing a perfect number. Aim for warm tropical water in the mid to high twenties Celsius, a pH around neutral or slightly acidic, and low nitrate through steady maintenance. If your tap water is very hard or alkaline, acclimate slowly and keep the routine consistent.
Rio Itaya Angelfish work well with peaceful, medium-sized fish that do not nip fins and are not small enough to be swallowed. They can live in a community aquarium, but the community should be planned around their adult size, tall fins and cichlid behaviour.
| Good options | Use caution or avoid |
|---|---|
| Larger peaceful tetras, such as rummynose or Congo tetras | Very small tetras that could fit in an adult angelfish's mouth |
| Corydoras, bristlenose plecos and other calm bottom dwellers | Tiger barbs and other fin-nipping barbs |
| Peaceful dwarf cichlids in a spacious planted tank | Boisterous cichlids that dominate feeding or territory |
| Gouramis and rainbowfish with similar water needs | Small ornamental shrimp, which may be eaten |
If you want a pair, buying young angelfish and letting a pair form naturally is usually calmer than forcing two adults together. Once a pair forms, they may defend a leaf, slate, filter intake or piece of wood during spawning, so give other fish room to move away.
This species is an easy omnivore when settled. Use a quality tropical flake or small cichlid pellet as the base, then rotate frozen foods such as bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis and daphnia for condition and colour. Feed small portions once or twice daily and remove uneaten food so the water stays clean.
| Daily base | Fine cichlid granules, tropical flake or slow-sinking community pellets |
|---|---|
| Colour and condition | Frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia and similar small meaty foods |
| Feeding zone | Surface and mid-water, with some foraging lower down |
| Avoid | Large hard foods that cannot be swallowed cleanly, or heavy feeding that clouds the water |
Rio Itaya Angelfish are intelligent, observant cichlids. They often learn feeding routines, hold favourite spaces in the aquarium and become more confident when the tank is calm. They are not aggressive in the way many larger cichlids are, but breeding adults can defend a chosen surface strongly.
Pairs usually spawn on vertical surfaces such as broad leaves, slate, filter pipes or wood. Both parents may guard eggs and fry, although aquarium strains vary in parenting reliability. If you are not trying to breed them, keep the layout spacious and avoid adding tiny tank mates that could be cornered during a spawning attempt.
This product can appear with more than one size option when supplier stock allows. Smaller sizes settle well into groups and grow on naturally; larger sizes give a more immediate display impact but should be added to a suitably spacious aquarium from day one.
Dim the lights, float the sealed bag to equalise temperature, then acclimate gradually before release. Keep the aquarium quiet for the first evening and offer only a light feed once the fish is swimming normally. Watch breathing, fin posture, colour and appetite during the first week.
Every eligible livestock order is packed in oxygenated bags inside insulated packaging and is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee. New customers can also use WELCOME10 for 10% off their first order where the code is eligible at checkout.
| Choose this fish if... | Pause if... |
|---|---|
| You have a mature, warm aquarium of at least 150 litres | Your tank is small, shallow or newly cycled |
| You want a natural-looking angelfish for a planted display | You keep fin-nippers or very tiny community fish |
| You can keep water stable and perform regular maintenance | Your aquarium has unstable temperature, pH or nitrate |
| You like calm cichlid behaviour and visible personality | You need a fish for a high-flow or rough community setup |
Yes. It is listed as Pterophyllum scalare, with Rio Itaya used as the locality or trade form name. Care is the same broad framework as other freshwater angelfish, with warm, stable water and a tall planted aquarium.
Young angelfish may ignore small tetras, but adult angelfish can eat fish that fit into their mouth. For a safer community, choose deeper-bodied or larger schooling fish and avoid adding tiny tank mates after the angelfish has matured.
A bonded pair works in a suitable aquarium. If you want a natural pair to form, start with a small group of juveniles in a larger tank, then be ready to separate fish if a dominant pair becomes territorial.
Care guidance for this listing was cross-checked against FishBase data for Pterophyllum scalare, aquarium care references for freshwater angelfish, and the live supplier record attached to SKU KF30.
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