Blue Zebra Angelfish Pterophyllum Scalare - 5cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Blue Zebra Angelfish is a captive-bred form of the freshwater angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare, showing extra vertical black bars over a steel-blue body, with the tall, laterally compressed shape that makes the species so graceful. Wild angelfish come from the Amazon and the Guianas, but this form was developed in the hobby. It suits keepers wanting an elegant centrepiece for a large, planted community tank.
- Adult Size: Around 15 cm (6 in) long; taller still including fins
- Lifespan: 8–10 years
Origin
- Native to: Amazon basin: Brazil, Peru, Colombia and the Guianas
- Habitat: Slow rivers and flooded forest with dense vegetation
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, leaning carnivorous
- Preferred Foods: Quality flakes, cichlid pellets, bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia, mysis
- Feeding Habits: Once or twice daily; small portions; alternate dry and frozen foods
Tank Mates
- Best with: Larger tetras, rainbowfish, Corydoras, gouramis, peaceful plecos
- Avoid: Neon-sized fish, fin-nippers, dwarf shrimp, boisterous cichlids
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful to semi-aggressive; squabbles with its own kind
- Territoriality: Pairs defend a spawning site strongly
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Needs a tall tank, stable water and careful tank-mate choice
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic
- Temperature: 24–30°C (75–86°F)
- pH: 6.0–7.4
- Hardness: 0–15 dGH
- Flow: Slow to moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 200 litres; at least 50 cm tall; larger for a group
Final Notes
Juveniles grow quickly and a small fish will soon need its full-sized tall tank, so plan the long-term home early. Groups form a pecking order, and a single fish, a pair or a group of six all work given space. Sexing is difficult outside spawning; pairs form monogamous bonds and lay on vertical surfaces such as broad leaves or slate. The blue sheen and bold striping show best under good lighting and clean, stable water.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.