Panda Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

Panda Angelfish get their name from the high-contrast black-and-white patterning that gives them a bold, graphic quality other angelfish color forms don't match. A true panda strain shows black saddle markings against a clean white base; some specimens show more diffuse dark patterning that reads as smoky rather than sharp contrast. Either way, it's one of the more visually striking angelfish in the trade and one that holds its coloring particularly well against the greens of a planted aquascape.

The biology is unchanged from any other Pterophyllum scalare: a tall-bodied, slow-moving Amazonian cichlid that evolved in warm, soft, slightly acidic water under heavy vegetation. They need tall tanks because they grow tall — up to 6 inches from dorsal to ventral fin on a well-developed adult — and they need clean, warm water because cichlids feel water quality acutely. Peaceful enough in a proper community with adequate space, but territorial once a pair forms and claims a spawning site.

Scientific name: Pterophyllum scalare (panda/black-and-white strain)
Origin: Amazon River basin, South America
Water parameters: Temp 76–86°F · pH 6.0–7.5 · Soft to moderately hard water
Tank requirements: 30 gal minimum; tall tank preferred
Diet: Omnivore — quality flake, pellet, frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp
Compatibility: Peaceful community when young; semi-territorial when paired
Husbandry note: Avoid high-intensity white-spectrum lighting if you want the panda contrast to show at its best. Full-spectrum or slightly warmer lighting makes the white appear whiter and the black appear deeper — the pattern reads completely differently depending on the lighting setup.