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) |
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.
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.
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.
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.






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