Tuxedo Veltail Angel

fish description – Tuxedo Veiltail Angelfish Care Guide ($Pterophyllum\ scalare$ ‘Tuxedo Veiltail’ Strain)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Pterophyllum\ scalare$ (‘Tuxedo Veiltail’ Strain)
Common Name	Tuxedo Veiltail Angel, Veiltail Angelfish, Two-Tone Angelfish
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, semi-aggressive when breeding
Lifespan	8–12 years
Care Level	Moderate to Advanced (Veiltail fins are sensitive)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: This fish has the classic, very tall, triangular angelfish shape. The ‘Tuxedo’ pattern features a solid, blocky area of black or dark pigment covering the rear half of the body, contrasting sharply with the pale front half. The fins are extra long and flowing due to the ‘Veiltail’ gene.
• Coloration: Body is typically silver/white at the head and front, transitioning to solid dark pigment on the back half. 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.
• Fins: Characterized by extra-long, flowing dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. These fins make the fish graceful but are prone to tearing and fin rot.
• Behavior: A graceful, mid-to-upper level swimmer. They are gregarious but become fiercely territorial in pairs when breeding, defending their area vigorously. Their long fins mean they are not strong swimmers and dislike strong currents.

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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: $76^\circ$–$84^\circ\text{F}\ (24^\circ$–$29^\circ\mathrm{C})$ (ideal $78^\circ$–$82^\circ\text{F}$). Stability is important.
• pH Level: Highly adaptable: 6.5 to 7.8. They accept a wide range of water hardness but require pristine water quality and gentle filtration. High water quality is essential to prevent fin rot in their long fins.
• Aquascape: Requires tall, broad-leaf plants (e.g., Amazon Swords) and driftwood arranged vertically to provide visual breaks and spawning sites. Use smooth gravel or sand. Water flow should be low/gentle to avoid stressing or damaging their long fins.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Tuxedo Veiltail 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. 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. Monitor to ensure they receive their full meal, as their fins can make them slow at competitive feeding.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Avoid all fin-nipping fish (e.g., Tiger Barbs, most small Tetras like Serpae) as their beautiful fins are an easy target. Will eat small fish (e.g., Neon Tetras, micro rasboras). Mated pairs become highly aggressive toward all 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.