Zebra Angelfish

Looks how to spot one

scales

The Zebra Angelfish has a tall, disc-shaped, compressed body with long dorsal and anal fins that give it a graceful, sail-like silhouette. Its body is silvery with several bold, dark vertical stripes, more numerous than the wild silver form, which is the key difference that defines this variety.51

Personality what they are like

Generally peaceful but semi-aggressive, especially during breeding when pairs become territorial. They may nip at smaller or long-finned tankmates. Best kept with similarly sized fish.31

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Mid-water swimmers that appreciate tall tanks with vertical space and plenty of hiding spots among plants and driftwood. They are not overly active but need room to manoeuvre their tall fins.31

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Easy care level. They can be fragile when very small but become hardy. Stable water parameters are essential; avoid sudden changes in pH and temperature. A densely planted tank with large-leaved plants like Amazon swords helps them feel secure.41

Home where they are happiest

Minimum 30 gallon (113 litre) tank, taller is better. Water temperature 24-30°C, pH 5.8-8.0, soft to moderately hard water. Slow water flow is preferred. Provide sandy or fine gravel substrate, driftwood, and plenty of plants. Not venomous or illegal to keep.412

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Omnivore. Staple diet of high-quality cichlid pellets or flakes, supplemented 2-3 times weekly with frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, tubifex, and blackworms. Also offer vegetable matter like blanched spinach or spirulina flakes. Variety is key for health and colour.361

Company who they like around

Can be kept in small groups of 3-6 in a spacious tank. They form pairs and become territorial when breeding. Compatible with other similarly sized, peaceful community fish but may bully smaller species. Not suitable for very small tanks or with fin-nippers.312

The story where it all began

The Zebra Angelfish is a colour variety of the freshwater angelfish Pterophyllum scalare, which was first described in 1823. It was developed through selective breeding from the wild silver form, which has fewer and less distinct vertical bars. The zebra pattern is characterised by extra, more pronounced black stripes, making it one of the most popular and recognisable angelfish varieties in the aquarium trade. Today, almost all specimens sold are captive-bred.517