Angels

[1 fish 2 fish]

How many true species of Angelfish are there? Or are there only a couple species, but many color morphs or man made color strains?

[ChilDawg]

There are at least two, the Pterophyllum scalare which is ubiquitous in aquaria, and the Deep Angel (P. altum) which is much harder to keep. I shall look to see if there are others.

[ChilDawg]

P. leopoldi also exists, and some of the fancy Angel strains are actually P. scalare x altum. This crossbreeding serves to help prevent fin rot in the fancy Angels.

[GEV83]

Theres a total of three or four. There the Scalare, Altum and Liopoldii but I think theres one other one not possitive though.

[ChilDawg]

The other one kept showing up, but I think that it was a junior synonym for the Leopold's Angel. But, given the way that S/A Cichlid taxonomy is being reorganized daily, look for the lumpers and splitters to have many field days before this is close to being resolved!