wild angels.

[BrkD]

im may get some altums for my tank but im concerned about my water params. i have a 6.5 ph but very soft water and temp is around 76f. is it a neccesity to have a more acidic ph(5.5-6) and higher temp for altums? what should they be fed? since they are from the wild i feel like they need frozen or live bloodworms and other live foods.

edit: ph is 6.8

[Beasts]

I have 4 very healthy altums in an aquarium with a pH of 6.9, a GH of 13 and a temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. They enjoy the frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms I feed but chow down real good on the flake food as well. The pH has been as high as 7.8 and they were quite healthy then too. Consider getting 3 or more to avoid aggression problems and, of course, make sure your aquarium is large enough - the bodies on mine are fast approaching palm size! I hope to find 5 more for a total of 9 in my 410.
Beasts

[Gumby131]

not meaning to hijack the thread, but how many are needed to spread aggression?

[Beasts]

I would say that number is dependent on a lot of factors. Three is definitely a minimum but more is better. With 3 at least the aggressor has 2 to chase thereby spreading the damage. How large is the aquarium? How densely decorated is it? What other fish are in the aquarium? If there is another species chasing them or they have another species to chase the intraspecific aggression will lessen. My 4 are fine but with the size of the aquarium and the density of the plantings it sometimes takes me a minute or two to find all four! Also, the rules change if a pair bond develops. Of course, with altums if I did get a pair I would purchase at least a 75 gallon for them alone!
I know this is not a very helpful answer but this is where experience and knowledge pay off. The process of accumulating both can be frustrating and time consuming but, if it was easy the hobby wouldn't be nearly as interesting - or challenging. Part of the reason I enjoy the aquarium hobby is the learning curve. There is always something new to assimilate. And with forums like this one assistance is readily available.
Beasts

[BrkD]

thanks. i have a 55g thats densly planted and thinking about gettin 3. would they eat flake food?

[Star_Rider]

if you advocate numbers to help spread aggression..you better have a really large tank..as they will pair up..spawn ,successfully..probably not as this species is one of the hardest to get to spawn successfully in captivity.

you will have to then deal with spawning aggression..which can get extremely nasty.
that said..you may need to deal with a very aggressive male in which even 5 may not be enough to 'spread' aggression.

your water is not acidic at least not to far from neutral.

with the altums you should probably treat them as you would discus..frequent water changes..I have seen altums maintained in large tanks with the wild Heckels Discus.

but as with all fish part of it is hit and miss..part of the challenge.

btw, I now keep wild peruvian scalare..a friend keeps altums and leopoldi