Zebra Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

This product supplies one live, unsexed Zebra Angelfish in the approximate size chosen from the selector. It is a domestic striped form of Pterophyllum scalare, recognised by a deep silver-gold body, multiple dark vertical bars and the high dorsal and anal fins that give freshwater angelfish their distinctive outline. One basket unit is one fish; it is not a pair, sexed specimen or fixed stripe pattern.

Plan the aquarium around an adult cichlid rather than the juvenile dispatch grade. The fish needs warm stable freshwater, substantial vertical clearance, open turning room and companions that will neither nip its fins nor fit into its mouth. Availability and price can differ between sizes, so confirm the selected option and basket immediately before ordering.

At a glance	Evidence-led guidance
Species	Pterophyllum scalare
Domestic form	Zebra / strongly barred phenotype
Family	Cichlidae
Order unit	One live, unsexed fish in the selected approximate grade
Published maximum total length	10.5 cm in FishBase
Adult vertical allowance	Roughly 20-25 cm including extended fins for conservative aquarium planning
Difficulty	Moderate
Behaviour	Semi-aggressive cichlid; hierarchy and spawning territory require management
Social route	Five or more in a properly sized group, or one established adult/compatible pair with a backup plan
Practical adult aquarium	About 180 litres, 100 cm long and 50 cm tall for one established adult or compatible pair
Group aquarium	About 250 litres or more, 120 cm long and 50-60 cm tall for five to six
Temperature	24-28°C practical captive range
pH	6.0-7.5 practical captive range
General hardness	5-13 dGH
Food	Complete omnivore staple with measured animal-food variety
Swimming level	Primarily middle water, especially around tall cover

Understand the order before checkout

A quantity is a fish count

Selecting quantity one adds one live fish. Selecting five adds five unsexed fish. The social recommendation does not silently turn a single unit into a group, and no pair pricing or shoal-price function is attached to this product.

The size band is approximate

Each option is a working livestock grade rather than an exact millimetre promise. A fish can sit near either edge, and fin position changes how large it appears. The grade cannot prove age, maturity, sex or eventual adult dimensions.

No sex selection

Young angelfish cannot be reliably sexed from routine external appearance. Even mature individuals can remain ambiguous away from breeding condition. No chosen size, forehead shape or fin shape can be used here as a male, female or breeding-pair guarantee.

Live availability governs the sale

The care information remains useful when every option is unavailable. Look at the selected option and basket for current stock and price; saved pages and earlier visits may no longer reflect live availability.

No genetic certificate is supplied

The supplier calls the fish Zebra, but has not supplied a genotype, pedigree, breeder name or inheritance record. We therefore describe the observed striped phenotype without presenting an unverified allele combination as fact.

Selection	What it confirms	What it cannot confirm
One size option	One fish in that approximate grade	Exact length, age or maturity
Quantity two	Two unsexed fish	A compatible male-female pair
Quantity five	Five unsexed fish	Equal sex ratio or permanent peace
Very small grade	A juvenile needing specialised grow-out attention	Safety with adult tank mates
Visible page	Care and comparison information	That an option is currently in stock

What the Zebra name means

A form of one freshwater species

Zebra is not a separate species. This fish remains Pterophyllum scalare, the commonly kept freshwater angelfish. Domestic selection can alter bars, body colour and fins without changing the underlying species-level needs for space, social management and warm clean water.

Phenotype rather than proven genotype

Phenotype means the appearance expressed by the fish. Specialist angelfish references associate the Zebra phenotype with a dominant mutation at the Zebra locus, but appearance alone does not certify whether this supplier fish carries one or two copies or another modifying gene. The page stays with what can be seen.

Multiple dark body bars

The Angelfish Society describes Zebra fish as commonly expressing three to five vertical body stripes in addition to the eye stripe. The reference photo displays several bold bars across a silver-gold body and patterned fins. Individual count and continuity can differ, so the reference is a guide rather than a template.

Not a scientific trinomial

Writing "zebra" after the species name in supplier data identifies a domestic form; it does not create a formally described subspecies called Pterophyllum scalare zebra. The customer title therefore keeps Zebra as the common trade name and puts the valid species separately in brackets.

Batch provenance remains unknown

The species has South American origins, but that does not prove this batch came from a particular river, breeder or country. Wild-caught and captive-bred status are also unstated. Those limits are carried into the structured facts rather than filled with assumptions.

Reading the fish's appearance

Silver, gold and green tones

The reference photo has a pale silver-gold body with green-gold areas through the fins. Domestic colour can look warmer or cooler under different lamps and backgrounds. No exact metallic shade is promised.

Bars can strengthen or fade

Vertical markings are influenced by inheritance, age and the fish's immediate state. Stress, social display and background can make contrast change. A recently transported juvenile may not look identical to a settled reference image even when it is the intended form.

Pattern continues into the fins

The reference photo and representative images show dark patterning through the dorsal, anal and tail fins. Fine detail varies between individuals. Patterned fins still need the same protection from rough ornaments and nipping tank mates as any long-finned angelfish.

Tall triangular outline

The body is flattened from side to side and deep from top to bottom. Long dorsal and anal fins exaggerate that height, while pelvic filaments trail below. This shape explains why a tank can hold enough litres yet remain unsuitable if it is too shallow.

How to interpret the five images

Four images are representative scenes based on the product reference, and the reference photo remains in the gallery. They communicate form and markings but are not exact dispatch portraits. The image showing two fish is a social illustration, not evidence that two or a pair are included.

Purchase size versus adult space

Published species length

FishBase gives 10.5 cm as the maximum published total length for Pterophyllum scalare. That is a horizontal measurement. It should not be expanded into an unsupported 15 cm body-length claim or used alone to decide whether the aquarium is tall enough.

Allow for fin height

A practical adult plan should reserve roughly 20-25 cm of overall vertical envelope for body and extended fins. This is conservative retail husbandry guidance, not a published maximum measurement. A tank around 50 cm tall leaves more useful clearance after substrate and surface space are deducted.

Every juvenile grade is temporary

A 1 cm or 2 cm fish may look suitable for a small tank on arrival, but it is growing towards the same adult form. The permanent aquarium should be planned and available before growth creates crowding. Purchase size does not reduce adult territorial behaviour.

Size grades are approximate bands

Livestock grades may use a practical visual measure rather than one scientific protocol. Use them to match food size and immediate companions, not to estimate a birthday or promise a future growth rate.

Stage selected	Immediate requirement	Long-term reality
About 1 cm	Fine food, protected intake, nursery-style observation	Still needs the adult aquarium later
About 1.5-3.5 cm	Size-matched companions and fair feeding	Hierarchy develops as the group grows
About 4-5.5 cm	Established tall aquarium and calm community	Pairing and territoriality may emerge
About 5.5-7 cm	Adult footprint and height already in place	Large size does not establish sex
Over about 7.5 cm	Immediate full-size territory planning	No guaranteed maturity or pair status

Why the care rating is moderate

Manageable does not mean effortless

This species usually eats prepared foods and adapts to stable aquariums, but its deep body, long fins, social hierarchy and breeding territory add genuine management. Moderate reflects the need to test water and observe individual behaviour rather than labelling every community cichlid easy.

Biological maturity first

Ammonia and nitrite must test at 0 mg/l before the fish arrives. An aquarium is not ready merely because it looks clear or has run for a certain number of days. The intended adult livestock load must be within the filter's real biological capacity.

Look at each individual

Check upright posture, steady breathing, complete fins, appetite and access to open water. One fish hiding continuously or missing meals can indicate hierarchy pressure even when the dominant fish rarely makes contact.

A separation route is part of preparation

Several juveniles can become an established pair plus excluded companions. A mature spare aquarium, suitable divider or responsible rehoming route prevents a behavioural change from becoming an emergency. No stocking chart can remove that possibility.

Tank dimensions for different social plans

One established adult

About 180 litres, at least 100 cm in length and around 50 cm in height is a practical baseline for one established adult in a compatible community. FishBase directly lists 100 cm minimum aquarium length; the volume and height are conservative display recommendations.

An established compatible pair

A known compatible pair can use a similarly sized or larger aquarium, but spawning defence changes how much territory is available to other fish. The word pair describes a relationship demonstrated by behaviour, not simply any two fish ordered together.

Five to six fish

For a group, use roughly 250 litres or more, about 120 cm of length and 50-60 cm height. Add space for other middle-water fish, bulky wood or overlapping cichlid territories. More litres cannot compensate for a short, obstructed footprint.

Break sight lines, not swimming lanes

Tall plants and upright wood can interrupt a direct view across the entire tank. Keep enough open routes that a subordinate can leave without entering another dead end. Structure should create choices rather than cages.

Count every resident at adult size

A juvenile community can look understocked while carrying a heavy future load. Calculate using adult size, waste production and territory. Bottom fish still affect filtration even when they do not compete for the same swimming level.

Keeping plan	Practical starting dimensions	Behavioural safeguard
One established adult	About 180 L, 100 cm long, 50 cm tall	Suitable adult companions and clear turning room
Compatible established pair	About 180 L or more	Manage defended spawning territory
Five to six	About 250 L+, 120 cm long, 50-60 cm tall	Several feeding sites and a separation route
Community with other cichlids	Larger than the group baseline	Map adult territories before purchase
Temporary grow-out	Mature, stable and size appropriate	Move before vertical or social crowding develops

Aquascaping for striped angelfish

Tall plants suit the body form

Vallisneria, tall stems and broad-leaved plants can provide visual cover around the upper and middle levels. Species choice depends on the available light and water. Leave open gaps so the fish can glide between planted zones without folding its fins.

Use secure upright wood

Vertical roots and branches create natural-looking divisions and make the bars stand out, but every piece must be stable and smooth. Avoid narrow forks that an adult might enter during a chase and fail to reverse through.

Preserve a turning corridor

Reserve a clear route through the central or front middle water. Dense planting against every pane can leave plenty of vegetation but little usable volume. Trim before leaves force the dorsal and anal fins against hardscape.

Background affects perceived contrast

A subdued background often makes the barred pattern easier to inspect. This is a viewing choice, not a method of manufacturing stripes. Do not use harsh light or reflective surroundings solely to intensify colour.

Cover the aquarium

Use a secure lid with sensible service gaps and an air space above the water. Check that equipment openings cannot trap a small juvenile. The cover also reduces escape risk during disturbance.

Water range and testing

Temperature between 24 and 28°C

The broader FishBase range extends to 30°C. A 24-28°C working band gives practical overlap with many suitable companions and leaves more oxygen margin than permanently using the warmest edge. Keep the selected point steady.

pH from 6.0 to 7.5

FishBase records pH 6.0-8.0. The narrower practical band avoids selling every extreme as equally desirable. Understand the source water and buffering instead of repeatedly dosing products to chase a decimal.

Hardness from 5 to 13 dGH

Use FishBase's documented 5-13 dH rather than the inherited 1-20 dGH supplier band. A result within range still needs stability, and movement between very different waters should be handled gradually during acclimation.

Zero ammonia and nitrite

Any measurable ammonia or nitrite means the system is not maintaining safe biological processing. Pause new additions, perform an appropriate partial change and investigate filtration, food, dead material or recent media disruption.

Control nitrate with the whole husbandry plan

Keep nitrate low and predictable through realistic stocking, measured food and regular maintenance. Compare aquarium and prepared tap-water values. A clear pane is not evidence of low dissolved waste.

Warm water needs gas exchange

Dissolved oxygen falls as temperature rises. Maintain surface movement, keep intakes clear and ensure overnight plant respiration does not leave the tank short of oxygen. Group-wide rapid breathing is a reason to test immediately.

Test	Working result	Response priority
Temperature	24-28°C	Correct faults gradually and check oxygen
pH	6.0-7.5	Understand buffering before adjustment
General hardness	5-13 dGH	Avoid sudden mineral change
Ammonia	0 mg/l	Act on any detection
Nitrite	0 mg/l	Act on any detection
Nitrate	Low and stable	Review stocking, food and water changes

Enter your tested values in the water matcher for a quick comparison. A chemistry match does not override aquarium height, adult size or behaviour.

Filtration, current and routine work

Protect mature filter media

Clean mechanical waste without sterilising all biological media at once. Replace components according to condition rather than discarding every mature surface on a calendar day. The filter must cope with the intended adult community.

Spread the return flow

A spray bar or broad return can move oxygenated water without creating a narrow jet. Provide calm edges but avoid stagnant pockets behind dense wood. The fish should be able to hold position without continuous effort.

Screen intakes for tiny grades

The approximately 1 cm option can approach gaps that are irrelevant to an adult. Use an appropriate pre-filter and inspect heater guards, overflow teeth and cable openings. Keep any sponge clean enough to preserve circulation.

Make water changes predictable

Match replacement temperature and chemistry, and use test results to set the schedule. A sudden very large environmental change can affect both physiology and social stability. Consistent partial work is easier to evaluate.

Remove hidden food

Long-finned fish may not retrieve food that falls into narrow root gaps. Siphon accessible debris and inspect low-flow pockets. Good maintenance prevents a rich feeding plan from becoming a water-quality problem.

Social hierarchy and pair formation

Juveniles form ranks

Published research shows clear social hierarchy in juvenile Pterophyllum scalare. Rank can influence aggression, activity and feeding. A visually calm group still deserves checks that every member eats and uses open water.

Numbers alone do not cure conflict

FishBase recommends a group of five or more, but five fish in an undersized tank is not responsible group care. The aquarium must supply enough length, height, sight breaks and feeding positions for the chosen number.

Signs of a pressured subordinate

Watch for one fish remaining behind equipment, holding dark bars constantly, folding fins, losing body condition or rushing for food only after others leave. Change layout or feeding access promptly and separate if the pattern continues.

A chosen pair may exclude others

As fish mature, two may form a pair and claim a leaf, wood face or filter surface. The remaining group can lose a large part of the aquarium. Remove pressure before repeated chasing damages fins.

Temperament is individual

Trade form does not determine one fixed personality. Health, maturity, prior social experience and territory all matter. Zebra bars do not make the fish more or less aggressive by themselves.

Building a compatible community

Judge companions at adult size

Select warm-water fish that are not persistent fin nippers and are too large to be swallowed by an adult angelfish. A small fish that coexists with a juvenile may become prey as mouth size increases.

Medium schooling species

Calm medium tetras, deeper-bodied rasboras and selected peaceful rainbowfish can work when their group and swimming-space requirements are met. Avoid filling all open middle water with very fast feeders.

Bottom dwellers

Suitable Cory-type catfish or a carefully chosen bristlenose can use another level, but they still contribute waste and require their own food. Check the warm end of their preferred range and ensure sinking meals are not monopolised.

Persistent nippers are unsuitable

Tiger barbs and other repeated fin-biters can damage dorsal, anal and pelvic fins. A larger shoal may change behaviour but does not guarantee safety. Long fins should not be used to test whether a particular group will nip.

Tiny livestock may be eaten

Minute fish, fry and shrimplets can fit into an adult mouth. Adult shrimp may sometimes remain in dense cover, but a shrimp-breeding display or fry-rearing aquarium is not a dependable match.

Community choice	Potential fit	Question to answer
Calm medium tetras	Often suitable	Are adults too large to swallow and kept in a proper group?
Deeper-bodied rasboras	Often suitable	Do water and swimming-space needs overlap?
Cory-type catfish	Suitable with planning	Can every bottom fish feed at the selected temperature?
Other angelfish	Use caution	Is there room and a separation plan for hierarchy or pairing?
Fin nippers	Avoid	Long-fin injury is foreseeable
Tiny fish, fry or shrimplets	Prey risk	Can an adult fit them into its mouth?

A feeding plan for every grade

Start with a complete staple

A quality angelfish or cichlid flake, soft granule or appropriately sized pellet should provide the nutritional base. Choose particles the fish can swallow cleanly. A food is not useful because it floats in the tank; each fish must actually ingest it.

Add controlled variety

Frozen or live brine shrimp, daphnia, mysis, bloodworm and mosquito larvae can add texture and feeding interest where appropriate. Variety is an addition to complete nutrition, not a reason to feed excessive rich food.

Very small juveniles need small meals

The smallest options benefit from fine complete food offered in several modest portions. Higher frequency increases waste risk, so observation, filtration and removal of leftovers become especially important.

Feed at more than one position

Spread food so a dominant fish cannot block every bite. Watch body condition over days, not only the first rush. A subordinate may need a sheltered feeding point or temporary separation.

Food cannot guarantee stripe count

Good nutrition supports condition and normal pigment expression, but no supplement can manufacture a certified Zebra genotype or exact set of bars. Treat dramatic colour-food promises cautiously.

Life stage	Useful approach	Main risk
Approximately 1 cm	Fine complete food and tiny suitable live/frozen variety in frequent small portions	Starvation beside larger fish or polluted grow-out water
Small juvenile	Small flakes/granules plus measured variety	Dominant siblings taking every meal
Medium juvenile	Complete staple at several positions	Overfeeding while encouraging growth
Larger fish/adult	Appropriate cichlid staple with varied frozen/live foods	Rich single-food diet and excess waste

Extra safeguards for the 1 cm option

Use a mature nursery-style system

Very small does not mean suitable for a new uncycled nano aquarium. The receiving setup needs established biological filtration, steady heat and easy observation. A simple layout can help monitoring while still providing visual shelter.

Match companions to the juvenile

Do not place the smallest fish with adults or any resident capable of swallowing it. Large feeding differences also matter when no predation occurs. Size-matched grow-out companions make food access easier to verify.

Check every hardware gap

Cover intakes, overflow openings and heater-guard spaces before delivery. Recheck after cleaning because equipment can shift. A mesh or sponge must not become so clogged that oxygenated flow falls.

Confirm food is swallowed

Powder disappearing into the water column is not proof of feeding. Watch the juvenile take and swallow appropriately sized particles. Remove deposits that collect on the floor or sponge.

A larger grade may fit an established display better

Where the community is already medium-sized and active, choose a larger available fish after checking compatibility. That reduces some immediate juvenile risks without removing adult cichlid needs.

Health and behavioural warning signs

Transport can change stripe contrast

A newly arrived fish may darken, pale or hold bars differently while adapting. Judge recovery through breathing, balance, fin carriage and eventual appetite rather than expecting display colour inside the shipping bag.

Inspect the full outline

Look for smooth upright swimming and fins held open without new tears. Damage can point to rough decor or social pressure. Repairing the cause is as important as supporting healing water conditions.

Rapid breathing needs investigation

Check temperature, surface movement, ammonia and nitrite if several fish breathe quickly or remain high in the water. Do not dismiss a system-wide change as shyness. Prompt testing provides more useful information than guessing.

Track appetite and body profile

A fish can rush towards food yet swallow very little. Check that the belly does not become persistently hollow and that faeces, posture and activity remain normal. Continued appetite loss deserves qualified aquatic-veterinary guidance.

Avoid blind medication

Good husbandry cannot promise disease-free life, and a product page cannot diagnose illness. Check compatibility of any treatment with every aquarium resident and seek specialist advice rather than dosing repeatedly without a diagnosis.

What you see	Possible context	First check
Bars become darker	Normal display, background response or stress	Breathing, feeding and social environment
Fins clamp or tear	Water problem, nipping, chasing or decor	Tests, companions and swimming routes
One fish hides and thins	Hierarchy pressure or missed food	Feeding access and separation need
Several fish gasp	Low oxygen, heat, ammonia or nitrite	Immediate water and circulation tests
New fish refuses one meal	Settling can suppress appetite	Posture and trend, without heavy feeding

Receiving and acclimating the fish

Test before dispatch day

Confirm temperature, pH, hardness, ammonia and nitrite before ordering. Check that the selected size cannot enter a filter opening or a tank mate's mouth. Preparation cannot be postponed until the courier arrives.

Follow the live-arrival evidence steps

Inspect the sealed package promptly and follow the current guarantee instructions if anything is wrong. Keep the bag and packaging until any required evidence is complete. Opening or discarding items too early can remove useful information.

Reduce the temperature difference

Float the sealed bag only for the appropriate period. Avoid strong light and excessive delay. Once the bag opens, gas exchange can alter shipping-water chemistry, so an extremely long acclimation is not automatically kinder.

Handle chemistry differences deliberately

Choose a controlled method based on measured differences and the current delivery guidance. Keep shipping water out of the display unless instructed otherwise. A smooth transfer matters more than performing a ritual for a fixed number of minutes.

Introduce into dim, calm surroundings

Lower the lights and prevent established fish from immediately surrounding a small newcomer. Provide cover with an exit. Observe aggression and breathing before leaving the aquarium unattended.

Offer a restrained first feed

When posture and respiration settle, try a small size-appropriate meal. Remove leftovers and do not use a large feeding response as the only health test. The acclimation timer can help organise steps while observation remains in control.

Pairing and reproduction facts

Routine visual sexing is unreliable

Juveniles do not provide a dependable external sex cue, and adult features overlap. Breeding tubes during active spawning can improve assessment, but no fish in this listing is sold with sex confirmation.

Pairs often select each other

Two randomly chosen fish may fight or simply coexist without pairing. Keepers who raise a juvenile group to allow choice need enough space for the full group and a route for fish excluded after pairing.

Eggs are placed on a surface

Angelfish commonly clean a broad leaf or other firm, often vertical surface before spawning. Both parents can participate in care and defence. Providing a leaf does not guarantee reproduction.

Defence can dominate a community

A pair may drive every other fish away from the selected site. The defended area can be large relative to an ordinary home aquarium. Move pressured fish before repeated chases cause injury.

No inheritance outcome is promised

Without certified parent genotypes, the stripe patterns of future offspring cannot be predicted from the trade name alone. This product does not guarantee fertility, pair bond, eggs, hatch rate or any particular phenotype in young.

Compare related angelfish forms

Zebra Smoke is a separate pattern choice

The Zebra Smoke Angelfish combines striped and smoky pattern language. The fish offered here is the standard Zebra trade form shown by its own reference photo. They should not be treated as the same form merely because both names include Zebra.

Blue Diamond

The Blue Diamond Angelfish emphasises a blue-silver trade appearance. It can still show bars, but the product identity and reference gallery are distinct. Compare current size and stock rather than assuming two names describe the same line.

Koi form

The Koi Angelfish is selected for warm patchwork colour. Its adult height, social hierarchy and water needs remain those of domestic Pterophyllum scalare.

Platinum White

The Platinum White Angelfish offers a much paler display choice. Colour does not make one form a nano fish or remove the need for a mature tall aquarium.

The broad Angelfish range

Use the Angelfish shop or Angel Fish category to compare all current forms. Those pages serve broad shopping queries; this product is intentionally specific to Zebra.

Delivery promises and current availability

Check the individual option

The product contains nine grades and each can have a different price or stock state. Confirm the selected option immediately before checkout because availability can change between visits.

Dispatch can respond to conditions

Weather, courier and livestock-welfare conditions can influence dispatch timing. Read the latest delivery information and arrange for someone to receive and acclimate the fish without delay.

Live Arrival Guarantee

Eligible UK livestock orders receive Live Arrival Guarantee cover when the current terms, timing and evidence requirements are followed. Review the process before the parcel arrives rather than after discarding packaging.

WELCOME10

Eligible first-time customers can use WELCOME10 for 10% off under the current terms. Enter the code at checkout and let the live basket confirm whether it applies. A discount never changes suitability or animal-care obligations.

Readiness checklist

Before ordering, confirm adult dimensions, established filtration, tested water, protected intakes, appropriate food, compatible adult tank mates and a separation option. The smallest grade needs the grow-out safeguards as well.

Decide whether this form fits your aquarium

Good match

This fish suits a mature tall freshwater display where the keeper wants a bold striped centrepiece, can observe social rank and has calm size-appropriate companions. It is especially effective among vertical plants and roots with an open middle-water route.

Poor match

Do not choose it for a shallow nano aquarium, uncycled setup, fin-nipping community, tiny-fish display, shrimp nursery or tank with no answer to cichlid territoriality. A low purchase price or small dispatch grade does not make those situations acceptable.

Five questions to answer

• Will the adult have at least about 100 cm of length and 50 cm of height, with more room for a group?
• Do ammonia and nitrite test at 0 mg/l, with stable 24-28°C, pH 6.0-7.5 and 5-13 dGH?
• Can every companion coexist with the selected grade now and the adult later?
• Can a dominant fish or spawning pair be separated if the hierarchy changes?
• Is the exact option in stock, and can the delivery be received immediately?

Frequently asked questions

What will be sent?

Each selected quantity supplies one live, unsexed Zebra Angelfish in the approximate size chosen from the option selector.

Does one order unit mean a pair?

No. One unit is one fish. The two-fish gallery image is illustrative and does not promise a pair or two supplied fish.

Is Zebra a different species?

No. It is a domestic striped form of Pterophyllum scalare, not a formal species or subspecies called Pterophyllum scalare zebra.

How many stripes will it have?

No exact count is guaranteed. Specialist phenotype references describe multiple body stripes plus the eye stripe, while inheritance, age and condition can alter expression.

Is the Zebra genotype certified?

No. The supplier provides the trade form and reference appearance but no genotype or pedigree certificate, so the listing does not promise `Z/+` or `Z/Z`.

How big is an adult?

FishBase records 10.5 cm maximum published total length. For the deep body and fins, reserve roughly 20-25 cm overall vertical envelope as conservative planning guidance.

What aquarium should I use?

Plan around 180 litres, 100 cm length and 50 cm height for one established adult or compatible pair, and about 250 litres or more with 120 cm length for five to six.

Should it be kept alone or in a group?

FishBase recommends five or more, particularly relevant to juveniles. An established adult or compatible pair can be managed separately, but unfamiliar fish need space and a hierarchy plan.

Can it join a community aquarium?

Yes, when companions are calm, warm-water compatible, not fin nippers and not small enough to be swallowed. Pairing can still create defended territory.

Will shrimp be safe?

Complete safety cannot be promised. Small shrimp and shrimplets can be eaten, making this a poor choice for a breeding shrimp display.

Which water range is appropriate?

Use a practical 24-28°C, pH 6.0-7.5 and 5-13 dGH with ammonia and nitrite at 0 mg/l. Avoid abrupt change.

What food is suitable?

Feed a complete angelfish or cichlid staple with restrained frozen or live variety, adjusting particle size and frequency for the selected juvenile grade.

What is different about the 1 cm grade?

It needs a mature nursery-style setup, protected filtration, fine food, several small meals and companions unable to swallow or outcompete it.

Can sex be selected?

No. Stock is unsexed and routine external features do not support a reliable juvenile sex promise.

Are the pictures of the exact dispatched fish?

No. Four are representative scenes based on the product reference, and one is the original reference photo. Natural individual variation is expected.

How do I check whether my preferred size is available?

Choose the size in the selector and check the basket state. Care and comparison information remains visible even when that grade cannot currently be ordered.

Can a first customer use WELCOME10?

WELCOME10 provides eligible first-time customers 10% off under the current terms. The checkout confirms eligibility.

Species and husbandry basis

FishBase supplies the published length, water, group and aquarium-length evidence. Behavioural and reproductive studies support the hierarchy, feeding-rank, territory and parental-care discussion. Tropical Fish Co's volume and height figures are labelled as conservative planning judgements where research does not prescribe a retail tank volume.

Phenotype context

The Angelfish Society phenotype library helps explain the established Zebra appearance and gene terminology. It is not used as a genetic certificate for this supplier batch. The reference photo remains the strongest evidence for the fish actually represented by this product.

More species-level help

Read the Angelfish care guide for broader setup support, then use this page for the Zebra appearance, selected sizes and live product status.

What the available evidence cannot confirm

The supplied trade name and reference image do not confirm an exact stripe count, genotype, pedigree, breeder, collection locality, captive or wild origin, sex, compatible pair, exact individual measurement or future breeding outcome. Those details are left open instead of being guessed.