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No federal permit to keepDwarf Angelfish
Pterophyllum leopoldi
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Pterophyllum leopoldi, also referred to as the teardrop angelfish, Leopold's angelfish dwarf angelfish, or roman-nosed angelfish, is an angelfish species native to the Amazon River (between Manacapuru and Santarém), Essequibo River and Rupununi…
Intro from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.0 in / 5 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 35 × 12 in (roughly 32 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
- Water: soft, acidic water, 72–84 °F, pH 5–7, 0–6 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament territorial.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “A naturally social and gregarious species, a group of 4 or more specimens should be aimed for in order to prevent excessive bullying of individuals, except for breeding purposes where fish pair off.”
- Diet: “Omnivorous but wild fish feed predominantly on various items of zoobenthos such as small crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates.”
- Tankmates: “Reportedly one of the more aggressive species in the genus towards conspecifics, it would be wise to aim for as large a group as constraints will allow to prevent bullying.”
- Breeding: “The best way to ensure you have a viable pair is to purchase a large groups and allow for the natural formation of pairs in a communal tank.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Freshwater angelfish
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Slow, vegetated Amazon waters. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For adult Pterophyllum scalare, Seriously Fish recommends at least 100 × 40 × 50 cm, including 50 cm height; tank volume alone misses fin height. Use the species water parameters and compatible stocking.
- Avoid fin-nipping tankmates.
Climate & lighting
| Water | 76–84°F |
Diet
- Flakes, pellets and frozen foods; they eat small fish like neon tetras as adults.
Health watch
- Ich, fin rot and angelfish virus in crowded tanks.
Understanding the animal
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Uses both the bottom and open water. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 90°F (up to 91°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 71°F (down to 70°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 79–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 79–85% on average (driest month about 78%) |
| Rainfall | about 2204 mm a year |
Measured at 9 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Pterophyllum leopoldi, also referred to as the teardrop angelfish, Leopold's angelfish dwarf angelfish, or roman-nosed angelfish, is an angelfish species native to the Amazon River (between Manacapuru and Santarém), Essequibo River and Rupununi River. It is distinguished from other members of the genus Pterophyllum by the absence of a pre-dorsal notch, and by the presence of a black blotch at the dorsal insertion on the 4th vertical bar. The species is frequently misidentified as P. dumerilii when it is imported in the aquarium trade. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 12 in (about 32 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Pterophyllum scalare Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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