The Black Angel Fish, or Pterophyllum scalare, is one of the most beautiful freshwater fish available. Their delicate fins and slim, flat body are very pleasing to look at. They add a definite beauty to one's aquarium.

The Angel Fish has a good temperament. An Angel Fish will be well adjusted to a community tank if it is raised in it. If a mature Angel Fish is introduced to a community tank, it will probably injure some of the fish. However, the Black Angel Fish will rarely kill another fish. They are especially aggressive during mating. Black Angel Fish love Neon Tetras, so don't keep the two species in the same tank. A typical habitat containing a Black Angel should include dense rock formations, driftwood and plants. The Black Angel will nibble on live plants, which is good for their diet. There should be plenty of hiding spaces for the Black Angel to retreat. Also, tall tanks are preferred by the Black Angel, as opposed to long and short tanks.

Angel Fish are named after their calming and graceful motions. Their body, if viewed from the side, looks somewhat like a broad arrowhead. Black Angel Fish are just that, mostly black. Some will have a few patches of silver.

At a mature age, Black Angel Fish will reach a size of six inches. It is difficult to distinguish male from female Black Angel Fish. However, during breeding, males can be spotted by their pointed breeding tube. The female breeding tube appears to be blunt. Also, females have a bulge in their belly.

Black Angel Fish are found in the Amazon River, in South America.

Black Angel Fish are not the strongest fish. They have a narrow temperature range, from 75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. They need water with a neutral pH, from 6.8 to 7.2. To keep your Black Angel Fish healthy, make sure the water is cleaned often, and always take the water from the bottom, because that is where all the excrement lies and needs to be removed. Black Angel fish, when in shock or scared, will lay flat on the floor of the tank. This does not mean the end, however. Most Black Angel Fish can recover from this and regain their normal health. The Black Angel is an omnivore, but it would rather have live food, such as fish, blood worms, glass worms, brine shrimp, and tubifex worms. They should be fed vegetables occasionally, including spinach, lettuce and zucchini. They will settle for frozen and flake foods as well. Black Angel Fish are especially vulnerable to cottonmouth. This disease will enlarge the mouth, making it impossible for the fish to eat. It spreads quickly as well. It can be treated, but it must be treated at an early stage of development to be effective.

When male and female Black Fish are kept together, they will usually form a 'couple'. They will produce around a 1000 eggs when spawning. Black Angels will sometimes be caring parents, and will protect both the eggs and fry. Sometimes, however, they will eat the eggs. If this happens, the eggs or parents should be put into a separate tank. If the eggs are separated, they should be placed on top of a flat surface and they should have a bubbler underneath them. The bubbler will simulate the natural fanning of the parents, and will keep the water around them clean. The mating period is when the Black Angel is most aggressive, so it is a good idea to separate them from other fish while breeding.