Pterophyllum cf. scalare "Surinam": A Gem from the Waters of Suriname

Calling some angelfish by the species name "altum" is often a marketing trick intended to sell a common angelfish in a previously unknown variant at a favorable price.

Pterophyllum surinam altum

Altums are clear, the literature about them is rich even in Czech writings. The fish we want to discuss here are commercially referred to as Pterophyllum surinam "red spotted" or also Pterophyllum surinam altum. These fish occur in the waters of Suriname and Guyana. They are real beauties both in body shape and their coloration.

How to keep Pterophyllum cf. scalare "Surinam"

Breeding does not differ much from other common angelfish variants. We must mainly pay attention to the quality parameters of soft water, which we ensure both by changing it (10-20% of the tank volume weekly) and by quality filtration. Angelfish generally do not like fast water flow! Temperature 22-26 °C, pH 6-7.

We offer mainly live food, in addition to plankton also small fish, mosquito larvae and other insect larvae, pieces of fish meat. There are plenty of quality artificial feeds, we usually use those types that are intended for discus fish. The food must be varied above all, we do not forget even occasional fasting days, which will benefit the condition of the fish. Once every 1-2 weeks, I also give a small amount of tubifex worms, bloodworms and mosquito larvae only from good sources.

Pterophyllum cf. scalare "Surinam": Breeding

Breeding is similar to other "tall" species of angelfish, which we have already reported on earlier ("Pterophyllum Scalare St. Isabel", "Pterophyllum scalare „Rio Japurá“", etc.). We use warmer water, at least 28 °C, the chemistry similar to some South American cichlids (40-80 μS/cm). As is often observed, especially young pairs will eventually eat their first clutches.
Fish need peace to spawn, we take care of this when placing them in an 80-100 liter spawning tank. A place in the semi-shade is better, preferably at the end of the "fish room", where not many people walk.

The fish is definitely a diversification of the offer of rarer fish for our aquariums, I can warmly recommend it to experienced cichlid keepers.

Photos (Dr. Vladko Bydžovský):

Pair spawning, female in front. The difference in the genital papillae can be seen. The male has it shaped into a point, the female has a blunt end.
Female at the clutch, male guards the surroundings.
14 month old male ready to spawn.
Young the first day after swimming.
On the left young "Surinam", on the right equally old "Manacapurú".