Marbled Golden Angelfish Pterophyllum Scalare
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 Marbled Golden Angelfish is a tank-bred form of the Angelfish combining swirling black marbling with a warm golden body and crown. The pattern varies from fish to fish and the gold deepens with maturity. Descended from Amazon basin stock, it makes a hardy, graceful centrepiece for a medium to large community.
- Adult Size: Around 15 cm (6 in) long, up to 20 cm (8 in) tall
- Lifespan: 8–10 years
Origin
- Native to: Amazon basin; Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Guianas
- Habitat: Slow, planted tributaries and flooded forest
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, leaning carnivorous
- Preferred Foods: Cichlid flake, pellets, bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis, daphnia
- Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily; vary dry and frozen foods
Tank Mates
- Best with: Larger tetras, rainbowfish, Corydoras, gouramis, bristlenose plecs
- Avoid: Neon tetras, fin-nippers, dwarf shrimp, aggressive cichlids
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive; generally calm
- Territoriality: Squabbles within the group; pairs guard spawning sites
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Needs a tall tank; pecking order and breeding aggression
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard
- 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 45 cm tall; larger for a group
Final Notes
Marbled golds grow fast and tall, so plan a deep tank with tall plants, wood and gentle flow; the gold tones strengthen with age and a varied diet. Raise a group of six and let pairs form; sexing is difficult outside spawning, when the male shows a smaller pointed papilla. Pairs lay on vertical surfaces and defend eggs vigorously. Small fish may be eaten once mature, but otherwise they are elegant and easy to please.
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.