Black Angelfish

1 Black Angelfish Species Profile

The Black Angelfish has a very distinctive appearance, hence its aliases Black Flying-fox and Ink Swallow. It is a mutant variety of the angelfish, with a body shape very similar to the angelfish but an entirely ink-black color, very unique and beautiful, and loved by many aquarists.

Chinese name: Black Angelfish

Also known as: Black Flying-fox, Ink Swallow

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Distribution: Amazon River, South America

2 Black Angelfish Appearance

The Black Angelfish shares the habits of the angelfish, with its gentle temperament, liking to swim in the mid-layer, and being calm; a single tank is recommended. Its unique appearance makes it loved by many aquarists.

The body is diamond-shaped and extremely laterally compressed; the caudal fin has a straight rear edge; the dorsal and anal fin rays extend backward, symmetrical above and below, like an open sail. The pelvic fins are very long, thread-like. Seen from the side it looks like a swallow flying, hence the name Angelfish or Swallowfish. The original angelfish has a silver-white base color, golden back, and four black horizontal stripes: the first through the eye, the second at the front edge of the dorsal and anal fin bases, the third from the end of the dorsal to the end of the anal fin, and the fourth at the caudal peduncle base.

The Black Angelfish is 10 to 15 cm long, disc-shaped and laterally compressed. The body is jet-black and bright. Males are larger with a round, slightly convex head; females have a flat head. It is a mutant variety of the angelfish, with stabilized hereditary traits through selective breeding. Its shape is like the angelfish, with wider and shorter fins, like a swallow or butterfly, entirely ink-black. Some Black Angelfish show a vertical transparent grid at the base of the caudal fin, very beautiful and unique.

3 Black Angelfish Habitat and Care

Like the angelfish, the Black Angelfish is not hard to keep, but that does not mean it can be kept carelessly; it needs a stable environment to grow healthily.

The Black Angelfish is not strict about water quality and likes weakly acidic soft water. It can live at 20 C, but long-term low temperature leads to poor growth and disease; about 26 C is best. Frequent changes with aired new water reduce disease; it likes tiny animal foods. It needs a large, clean tank, pH 6.5 to 7.4 (hydrogen ion concentration 39.81 to 316.3 nmol/L), with broad-leafed plants and light (but no direct sun).

4 Black Angelfish Feeding

Although the Black Angelfish can tolerate 20 C, it should not stay in such water long, as it easily gets sick or even dies. Besides a suitable stable environment, tasty food must be provided.

The Black Angelfish has a flat disc body, small pointed head, long fringed pelvic and anal fins, and a tall sail-like dorsal fin, giving a kind and dignified feeling. The color is rich and harmonious—some silver-white, some ink-black, some sharply black-and-white, with bright red irises. The Black Angelfish especially loves live food; when using live food, rinse it first to reduce unnecessary pathogen contamination.