Assorted Veil Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

Veil Angelfish are Pterophyllum scalare carrying a recessive fin-extension gene that pushes the fin rays well beyond their natural length, producing trailing, billowing fins that move with every current change in a way the standard fin type doesn't match. The effect is particularly dramatic in a school moving through a planted tank — a lot of motion, a lot of visual mass, and an elegance that's hard to replicate with any other freshwater species.

The biology under the coloring is standard Pterophyllum: tall, laterally compressed cichlids from slow Amazonian water, built to slide sideways through submerged root systems and dense vegetation, using their body shape as camouflage rather than relying on speed. They need tall tanks more than long ones — standard 55-gallon tanks are too short for them to develop properly. They're peaceful in a community setting until they're not, which usually means pairing off and claiming territory, or encountering a fin-nipper that sees those long veils as an invitation.

This listing is assorted color variants — a mix of silver, marble, koi, gold, or other patterns that came out of the same spawn. If you're building a planted community and want a centerpiece species that grows into the aquascape rather than competing with it, a small group of veil angels is one of the better answers in freshwater.

Scientific name: Pterophyllum scalare (veil fin strain)
Origin: Amazon River basin, South America — slow-moving, heavily vegetated blackwater and clearwater rivers
Water parameters: Temp 76–86°F · pH 6.0–7.5 · Soft to moderately hard water
Tank requirements: 30 gal minimum; tall tanks with 24"+ depth preferred
Diet: Omnivore — quality flake, pellet, and frozen foods; supplement with bloodworms and brine shrimp
Compatibility: Peaceful community when young; semi-territorial when paired and breeding
Husbandry note: Avoid tankmates that nip fins — those long veil fins are a magnet for barbs, danios, and serpae tetras especially. Fin damage on veil angels is severe and heals slowly.