The Black Lace Angelfish 9/10cm is a beautiful colour form of the classic freshwater angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare. With its dark, velvety body, subtle lace‑like patterning and long, trailing fins, the Black Lace Angelfish makes a stunning centrepiece in a planted, medium to large aquarium.
At around 9–10cm, these Black Lace Angelfish 9/10cm are already a good size and will continue to grow and fill out with proper care. Their tall, triangular body shape looks best in tanks with good height, vertical plants and open swimming space.
Appearance and Size
- Variety: Black Lace Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)
- Colour: deep black to charcoal body with soft, lace‑like patterning
- Fins: long, flowing dorsal and anal fins with extended ventral “feelers”
- Size: sold at approximately 9–10cm (body size, not including fins)
- Adult size: can grow larger with good care in a suitable aquarium
The rich dark colour of the Black Lace Angelfish 9/10cm contrasts beautifully with bright green plants and lighter backgrounds, making them a real focal point.
Tank Requirements for Black Lace Angelfish 9/10cm
Because of their tall body and adult size, Black Lace Angelfish need a suitably sized, well‑filtered aquarium:
- Recommended tank size: a tall aquarium from around 3ft+ is ideal for a small group
- Filtration: reliable filtration with gentle to moderate flow (they don’t enjoy strong current)
- Décor: vertical plants, driftwood and open swimming areas work well
- Substrate: sand or fine gravel, with plenty of plants or hardscape for security
A calm, well‑scaped tank will help your Black Lace Angelfish 9/10cm feel secure and show their best colour.
Water Parameters (Guide Only)
Black Lace Angelfish are reasonably adaptable if changes are slow and water quality is high:
- Temperature: around 24–28°C
- pH: roughly 6.5–7.5
- Hardness: soft to moderately hard water
- Ammonia & Nitrite: 0 ppm
- Nitrate: kept low with regular water changes
Stable, clean water is more important than chasing exact numbers. Regular maintenance helps keep your Black Lace Angelfish 9/10cm healthy and active.
Feeding Black Lace Angelfish
The Black Lace Angelfish 9/10cm is an omnivore and enjoys a varied diet:
- Quality pellets or flakes designed for tropical or cichlid fish
- Frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and daphnia
- Occasional vegetable‑based foods or spirulina‑rich options
Feeding a mix of staple pellets and treats helps your Black Lace Angelfish maintain good colour, growth and condition.
Behaviour and Tank Mates
Black Lace Angelfish are generally peaceful to semi‑territorial cichlids:
- Behaviour: calm, graceful swimmers that may become territorial, especially when pairing or breeding
- Best kept: in small groups or pairs in a suitably sized tank
- Tank mates: peaceful to semi‑peaceful community fish that are not fin‑nippers and are too large to be seen as food
Good tank mate options can include larger tetras, peaceful barbs, rainbowfish, Corydoras and some smaller peaceful cichlids, depending on tank size and layout. Avoid very small fish and aggressive fin‑nippers.
Important Notes
- The Black Lace Angelfish 9/10cm is not recommended for very small or low tanks due to its tall body and adult size.
- Provide stable water conditions, good filtration and regular maintenance for long‑term health.
- As with all angelfish, individual temperament can vary – always monitor new tank mates.
