As a passionate aquarium enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by the diverse and mesmerizing world of angelfish. These majestic creatures, also known as Scalare, exhibit a stunning range of colors, patterns, and fin shapes, making them captivating additions to any aquarium.
by Fabian
Updated: June 1, 2023 / 12 mins read
Fabian is the dedicated Chief Editor at Aquarium Nexus. From a young age, he was captivated by the vibrant world of aquatic life, leading him to accumulate over 20 years of experience in keeping and breeding various fish species. The fulfillment derived from the aquarium hobby has remained a constant throughout Fabian's life. As an expert in the field, he finds great pleasure in imparting his extensive knowledge and personal experiences to both seasoned aficionados and budding enthusiasts.
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In this article, I’ll introduce you to 21 rare and common varieties of angelfish (Scalare) that will surely pique your interest and fuel your desire to learn more about these captivating species. So join me on this journey to explore and appreciate the elegance and mystique of these alluring aquatic creatures.
Zebra Angelfish
The Zebra Angelfish is an elegant and eye-catching variety known for its distinctive striping pattern that runs vertically across its body. Despite its name, this stunning species is not related to the zebra, but earns its title thanks to its striking stripes.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with long, graceful fins; vertical stripe pattern
- Coloration: Silver to grey body with 3 to 4 bold black stripes
- Price Range: Low to moderate, typically between $10 and $30 per fish
- Rarity: Common in the aquarium trade due to their striking appearance and adaptability
Silver Angelfish
The Silver Angelfish is a classic and popular variety appreciated for its subtle elegance and shimmering appearance. Their monochromatic coloration highlights their graceful finnage, creating a refined aesthetic addition to any aquarium.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated, tapering fins
- Coloration: Silvery-grey body with a subtle sheen, sometimes displaying faint vertical stripes
- Price Range: Generally affordable, ranging from $5 to $20 per fish
- Rarity: Common and widely available, making them ideal for beginner aquarists or those looking for a more understated species
Wild Cross Angelfish
The Wild Cross Angelfish, an intriguing variety, combines the characteristics of both wild and selectively bred angelfish. This results in a fish that showcases unique features and an engaging appeal, perfect for those desiring a fish that’s a bit more unusual.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with long fins; a combination of wild and domestic traits
- Coloration: Varied, often displaying blotches or multiple tones, such as grey, brown, or green
- Price Range: Moderate to high, typically between $30 and $60 per fish
- Rarity: Uncommon, appealing to hobbyists looking for a more exclusive addition to their collection
Marble Angelfish
The Marble Angelfish is an enchanting variety that boasts an intricate and captivating pattern. The random assortment of colors and markings makes each individual fish a unique work of living art that adds an element of intrigue and mystique to any aquarium.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with long, flowing fins; characterized by their unique marbled pattern
- Coloration: Mix of black, white, and grey patches; patterns can vary greatly among individuals
- Price Range: Affordable to moderate, generally ranging from $10 to $30 per fish
- Rarity: Common and highly sought-after for their artistic beauty and distinctiveness within the angelfish world
Koi Angelfish
The Koi Angelfish is a vibrant and colorful variety that resembles the beloved koi carp found in many tranquil garden ponds. Their lively hues and striking patterns make these angelfish an eye-catching addition to any aquarium, sure to generate interest and admiration.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated, sweeping fins and distinct koi-like markings
- Coloration: Combination of red, orange, white, and black patches, varying significantly between individuals
- Price Range: Moderate to high, typically between $30 and $80 per fish
- Rarity: Relatively uncommon and highly prized for their lively colors, reminiscent of their koi carp counterparts
Veiltail Angelfish
The Veiltail Angelfish is a mesmerizing variety known for its extraordinarily elongated and flowing fins, resembling a beautiful veil. This characteristic elevates the fish’s appearance, making them a stunning addition to any aquatic environment.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with exceptionally long, trailing dorsal, anal, and caudal fins
- Coloration: Diverse range of colors and patterns, all accentuated by the dramatic finnage
- Price Range: Moderate to high, typically between $40 and $70 per fish
- Rarity: Uncommon and highly desirable for their exquisite beauty and eye-catching fin extensions that capture the imagination of aquarists and onlookers alike
Black Lace Angelfish
The Black Lace Angelfish is a captivating variety that showcases an exquisite pattern of lacy black markings over a silver body. The contrast between the dark markings and metallic base create an engaging visual effect that draws admiration from those who appreciate the intricacies of such patterning.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with long, wispy fins; defined by their intricate lace pattern
- Coloration: Silvery base with a delicate net of black markings, creating a lacy effect
- Price Range: Low to moderate, generally between $10 and $35 per fish
- Rarity: Relatively common and beloved for their elegant, contrasting patterns that add a touch of sophistication to any aquarium setting
Sunset Angelfish
The Sunset Angelfish is an exquisite variety known for its breathtaking gradient of colors that beautifully mimic the colors of a setting sun. Radiating warmth and tranquility, these stunning fish add an element of serenity to any aquarium environment.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated fins; distinguished by their sunset-inspired hues
- Coloration: Gradient of warm colors, shifting from deep orange at the top to paler hues near the bottom, often with a silvery or iridescent sheen
- Price Range: Moderate to high, typically between $30 and $80 per fish
- Rarity: Uncommon and highly sought-after for their calming, mesmerizing colors that conjure up images of peaceful sunsets by the water’s edge
White Angelfish
The White Angelfish, also known as the Platinum or Snow White Angelfish, is a stunning variety that captivates observers with its graceful elegance and pristine, snow-white appearance. This ethereal beauty adds a serene and otherworldly presence to any aquarium.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with long, flowing fins; characterized by their pure white coloration
- Coloration: Uniform snow-white body and fins, often adorned with a subtle pearlescent sheen
- Price Range: Moderate to high, generally ranging from $30 to $80 per fish
- Rarity: Uncommon and highly prized for their striking, celestial beauty that adds an air of tranquility and majesty to any aquatic environment
Leopard Angelfish
The Leopard Angelfish is a fascinating variety that derives its name from the characteristic spotted pattern reminiscent of its feline namesake. These distinctive spots enliven any aquarium, attracting curiosity and admiration from onlookers.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated, flowing fins; distinguished by their spotted pattern
- Coloration: Golden or silver body adorned with numerous black or dark brown spots, ranging from small to medium in size
- Price Range: Moderate, typically between $20 and $50 per fish
- Rarity: Relatively uncommon and sought-after for their wild, exotic beauty that adds a touch of untamed allure to any aquatic setting
Golden Angelfish
The Golden Angelfish is a radiant and captivating variety known for its rich, metallic yellow-gold coloration. This gleaming beauty brings an element of opulence and splendor to any aquarium, attracting admiration and evoking feelings of luxury.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with long, graceful fins; notable for their striking gold hue
- Coloration: Rich, metallic gold body, often accented with subtle iridescent markings or highlights
- Price Range: Moderate, typically ranging from $20 to $50 per fish
- Rarity: Somewhat uncommon, cherished by aquarists for their regal, lustrous presence that adds a touch of grandeur to any underwater kingdom
Diamond Gold Angelfish
The Diamond Gold Angelfish is an enchanting variety characterized by its sparkling, gem-like coloration. With a body that appears as if it has been gently dusted with shimmering gold particles, this fish brings a touch of magic to any aquarium.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with long, flowing fins; distinguished by their diamond-like sparkle
- Coloration: Translucent base with a fine, glittering layer of gold, creating a diamond-dusted appearance
- Price Range: Moderate to high, typically between $40 and $80 per fish
- Rarity: Rare and highly sought-after for their mesmerizing, ethereal beauty that adds a touch of wonder and enchantment to any aquatic environment
Blushing Angelfish
The Blushing Angelfish is a delightful variety known for the unique, rosy hue that appears to blush across its gills and upper body. This charming fish adds a hint of warmth and romance to any aquarium setting.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated, flowing fins; characterized by their blushing coloration
- Coloration: Predominantly silver or white body with a delicate, rosy blush around the gill area and sometimes extending to the upper part of the body
- Price Range: Affordable to moderate, generally ranging from $10 to $35 per fish
- Rarity: Somewhat common, appreciated for the gentle charm and warmth that their blushing coloration adds to any aquarium
Albino Angelfish
The Albino Angelfish is a captivating variety known for its striking, pale appearance that results from a genetic condition affecting the pigmentation of the fish. This ethereal beauty adds a soft, otherworldly presence to any aquarium setting.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated, flowing fins; characterized by their lack of pigmentation
- Coloration: Predominantly white or cream body with pale pink or orange hues, accompanied by red or pink eyes
- Price Range: Moderate, typically ranging from $20 to $50 per fish
- Rarity: Uncommon, highly cherished for their uncommon and ghostly beauty that creates an air of mystique and serenity in any aquatic environment
Golden Marble Angelfish
The Golden Marble Angelfish is a magnificent variety that showcases a stunning fusion of the lustrous golden hues of the Golden Angelfish with the mesmerizing patterns of the Marble Angelfish. This distinctive fish makes a statement in any aquarium.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated, flowing fins; remarkable for their marbled pattern and golden coloration
- Coloration: Rich gold base with an intricate arrangement of darker gold, black, or grey marbled patches
- Price Range: Moderate to high, typically between $30 and $60 per fish
- Rarity: Uncommon and highly prized for their opulent, artistic beauty that combines the best traits of both Golden and Marble angelfish varieties into a splendid, eye-catching fish
Clown Angelfish
The Clown Angelfish is a lively and enchanting variety recognized for its striking, bold striping and vibrant coloration. This charismatic fish brings a sense of fun and vivacity to any aquarium, attracting the attention of observers with its spirited personality.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated fins; characterized by their distinctive clown-like striping
- Coloration: Vivid combination of orange, red, and black stripes or patches that create a captivating, clown-like appearance
- Price Range: Moderate to high, typically between $30 and $70 per fish
- Rarity: Uncommon, sought-after for their exuberant colors and spirited presence reminiscent of the amusing characters for which they are named
Smokey Angelfish
The Smokey Angelfish is an intriguing variety known for its mysterious and alluring coloration that resembles wisps of smoke. This enigmatic fish adds a touch of mystique and secrecy to any aquarium environment.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated, flowing fins; characterized by their smoky, shadowy coloration
- Coloration: Pale to dark grey base with a subtle, smoky overlay of darker shades, creating an elusive, shadowy effect
- Price Range: Affordable to moderate, generally ranging from $10 to $40 per fish
- Rarity: Somewhat common, appreciated for their elusive charm and the air of mystery that their smoky appearance brings to any aquatic setting
Half-Black Angelfish
The Half-Black Angelfish is a remarkable variety known for its strikingly bold, contrasting coloration that instantly captures the eye. This dramatic fish adds an element of visual interest and fascination to any aquarium.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with long, sweeping fins; distinguished by their eye-catching, contrasting colors
- Coloration: Front half of body is silver or white, while the rear half is strikingly black, creating a stark, contrasting effect
- Price Range: Moderate, typically ranging from $20 to $50 per fish
- Rarity: Uncommon, highly cherished for their audacious, two-tone appearance that commands attention and adds a sense of drama and flair to any aquatic environment
Platinum Angelfish
The Platinum Angelfish is a luxurious and captivating variety known for its stunning, metallic-silver appearance. This gleaming beauty brings an element of opulence and prestige to any aquarium, evoking feelings of sophistication and refinement.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated fins; renowned for their striking platinum hue
- Coloration: Shimmering, metallic silver body with a lustrous sheen that reflects light beautifully
- Price Range: Moderate to high, typically ranging from $30 to $80 per fish
- Rarity: Uncommon, highly prized for their regal, lustrous presence that adds a touch of glamour and prestige to any underwater domain
Altum Angelfish
The Altum Angelfish, also known as the Orinoco Angel or the Pterophyllum altum, is a statuesque and regal variety native to South America. With its soaring fins and distinguished markings, this fish exudes a commanding presence that enchants and awes viewers.
- Appearance: Tall, extremely compressed body with remarkable, elongated fins; deeper body than most angelfish
- Coloration: Pale silver base with thin, dark vertical stripes and a red-brown stripe above the eyes
- Price Range: High, often between $60 and $150 per fish, depending on size and quality
- Rarity: Quite rare and coveted among aquarists for their majestic, elegant appearance and their status as the largest and most distinguished members of the angelfish family
Ghost Angelfish
The Ghost Angelfish is an enigmatic variety that entrances with its haunting and otherworldly appearance. This elusive beauty adds a touch of mystery and intrigue to any aquarium, captivating the imagination of onlookers.
- Appearance: Tall, compressed body with elongated, flowing fins; characterized by their translucent, ghostly appearance
- Coloration: Pale, semi-transparent body with subtle iridescent sheen; faint traces of color, such as blue or green, often visible along the fins
- Price Range: Affordable to moderate, generally ranging from $10 to $30 per fish
- Rarity: Somewhat common, favored for the ethereal charm and mystique that their ghostly appearance brings to any aquatic environment
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored different types of angelfish, both rare and common varieties, that showcase the diverse and stunning beauty of these majestic aquatic creatures. From the ethereal charm of Ghost Angelfish to the opulent grandeur of Platinum Angelfish, these captivating species can transform any aquarium into a mesmerizing underwater paradise.
Whether you’re an experienced aquarist or just beginning your journey, there’s sure to be an angelfish variety that captures your heart and imagination as you delve deeper into the enchanting world of these elegant underwater jewels.
