Albino Manacapuru Angel

 

fish description – Albino Manacapuru Angelfish Care Guide ($Pterophyllum\ scalare$ ‘Albino Manacapuru’ Strain)

size – 1.5 inch

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Pterophyllum\ scalare$ (‘Albino Manacapuru’ Strain)
Common Name	Albino Manacapuru Angel, Albino Red-Shoulder Angel
Origin	Amazon River Basin (Selectively Bred Strain)
Adult Size	6 inches long; 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) in height (fin-tip to fin-tip)
Temperament	Peaceful but territorial, can be aggressive when breeding
Lifespan	8–12 years
Care Level	Moderate (due to size and potential aggression)

 

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: This majestic fish has a very tall, laterally compressed body. The albino trait gives it a pale white/yellow base color with red eyes, allowing the red highlights (from the Manacapuru line) on its shoulders and fins to show through dramatically.
• Coloration: Pale body, often with subtle yellow/orange tints where normal pigment would be. Males are slightly larger, often develop a subtle nuchal hump (forehead slope), and have a pointed breeding tube. Females are rounder-bodied, especially when carrying eggs, and have a blunter, rounded breeding tube.
• Fins: Long, flowing dorsal and anal fins.
• Behavior: A mid-to-upper level swimmer. They are gregarious and should be kept in groups when young. Mated pairs are highly territorial and aggressive when guarding a spawning site or fry.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons (208 liters) is highly recommended for a group of adults. The tank should be tall (20 inches minimum) to accommodate their height.
• Schooling: Best kept in a group of 4–6 individuals to reduce timidity and encourage natural behavior. Pairs will form as they mature.
• Temperature: Tropical range: $77^\circ$–$84^\circ\text{F}\ (25^\circ$–$29^\circ\mathrm{C})$ (ideal $78^\circ$–$82^\circ\text{F}$).
• pH Level: Highly adaptable: 6.0 to 7.8. They accept a wide range of water hardness but prefer pristine water quality. Gentle filtration that avoids strong currents is best.
• Aquascape: Requires tall, broad-leaf plants (e.g., Amazon Swords) and tall driftwood arranged vertically to provide visual breaks and potential spawning sites (vertical flat surfaces). Provide fine or smooth gravel substrate.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Albino Manacapuru Angelfish is an omnivore with a preference for animal proteins.

• Staple Diet: High-quality flake food and sinking pellets formulated for omnivorous cichlids.
• Supplementation: A varied diet is essential for health and color. Offer frozen or live foods regularly: Bloodworms, Brine Shrimp, Daphnia, and occasional vegetable matter (spirulina, blanched zucchini).
• Schedule: Feed small portions once or twice a day. They are slow, methodical eaters and should be monitored to ensure they receive their full meal.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Peaceful but opportunistic feeders—will consume any fish small enough to fit in their mouth (e.g., Neon Tetras, micro rasboras, shrimp fry). Avoid all fin-nipping fish (e.g., Tiger Barbs). Mated pairs become highly aggressive toward all other tank mates during breeding.
• Good Tank Mates: Larger, peaceful Tetras (Rummy Nose, Congo, Black Skirt), Rainbowfish, Gouramis (Pearl, Moonlight), and bottom-dwellers like Corydoras catfish and Bristlenose Plecos.