Altum angelfish are the biggest of the angelfish species. They can achieve a length of up to six inches and height of up to 12 inches. Altum angelfish come from the Amazon river basin in Venezuela.
The Altum angelfish, with their brown perpendicular stripes and silvery body, are properly camouflaged amongst the long stemmed plant life that is normal in their indigenous environment. Altums have a rather unique shaped mouth, which is rather pointed, and their forehead is sharply sloped. The first dark band runs through the eye; the second runs near the mid-section of the body, while the third runs from the tip of the dorsal fin, through the body, and to the tip of the anal fin. The final band runs on the caudal penuncle.
As full-grown Altum are very big, they should be kept in a tank of no less then 30" tall and 4' long. The perfect tank setup for your Altum angelfish would also include some large pieces of bogwood in additon to large leafed plants, such as the amazon swordplants. Care must taken to ensure there is still sufficient room in the center of the tank for free swimming.
The water should be kept in very soft water that is a little acidic. A pH level of 4.5-6.5 is appropriate for Altum Angelfish. They desire especially warm water and they are best kept in 28-30°C / 82-86°F. Low nitrate levels and slowly filtered water are also important to keeping Altums in good physical shape. These conditions closely match their native ecosystem. Water quality is a fundamental component to effectively raising Altum angelfish given that nearly all are captured in the in their natural habitat.
Since the Altum is typically a wild caught fish, they can be much more difficult to care for than the more common angelfish, the Scalare. As a result, few people attempt to raise Altums.
Since they are wild caught fish, Altums can be tough to come across at times. And one must be cautious of phony Altums being sold. They can be challenging to distinguish from Scalares if not properly trained.
Altums are not ideal community fish, but they are more or less peaceful and usually can be kept with other peaceful fishes from the same region. Fish like Discus and Tetras by and large do ok. Altums are cichlids, nonetheless, and can be very defensive. Also remember that no matter how peaceful Altum appear to be, they will consume smaller fish if given the occasion. Smaller tetras such as cardinals and neons would most likely become costly fish food.
Altums, similar to other angelfish, have an voracious appetite. Because they are usually caught wild, live food is the favored cuisine. Most will eagerly accept other foods over time, such as frozen brine shrimp and blood worms.
Despite providing great water conditions and a good diet, Altum angelfish can be tough to raise and even more challenging to breed. Determining the sex can also be exceptionally tricky, as it is with the majority of the angelfish varieties.
