Koi Angelfish

Koi Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

Koi Angelfish are one of the most eye-catching freshwater angelfish varieties in the hobby. With their mix of white, orange, gold, and black marbling, they bring a bold, elegant look to the aquarium and make a standout centerpiece fish in planted and community setups.

At Legacy Line Aquatics, these fish are bred and raised in-house by me in a small-scale, care-first setup. I do not source from mass-production fish farms. My focus is on raising healthy fish with clean water, proper nutrition, and attentive day-to-day care, so you receive fish I’d be confident keeping in my own fish room.

Why Hobbyists Love Koi Angelfish

• Beautiful white/orange/gold marbling with unique patterning

• Elegant body shape and finnage

• Great centerpiece fish for planted and community aquariums

• Intelligent cichlid behavior with strong personality

• Each fish develops differently, making every one unique

Temperament & Behavior

Koi Angelfish are generally semi-peaceful cichlids with a lot of personality. They do well in community aquariums with the right tank mates, but like all angelfish, they can become more territorial as they mature, especially in pairs or during breeding behavior.

They do best in tanks with:

• Vertical structure (plants, driftwood, décor)

• Open swimming space

• Gentle to moderate flow

• Stable water quality and temperature

• Taller tank dimensions (preferred over shallow setups)

Tank Size (Recommended)

• Pair (long term): 29 gallons+ recommended

• 2-4 Community setup: 40 breeder / 55 gallon+ preferred

• 4+ Group of angelfish: 75 gallon+ larger tanks strongly recommended to reduce aggression

Water Temperature

• Ideal range: 78–82°F

• Many hobbyists keep them around 79–80°F

• A stable temperature is more important than chasing an exact number

Tank Mates (Good Choices)

Best tank mates are peaceful to semi-peaceful fish that are not fin nippers and are large enough not to be viewed as food by adult angelfish.

Good tank mates may include:

• Corydoras

• Rummy nose tetras

• Cardinal tetras

• Bleeding heart tetras

• Rainbowfish (larger tanks, compatible temperament)

• Bristlenose plecos

Avoid:

• Fin-nippers

• Highly aggressive cichlids

• Very small fish that may fit in an adult angelfish’s mouth

• Overly boisterous fish that constantly stress them

Feeding

Koi Angelfish thrive on a varied diet. A rotation of quality foods helps with color, growth, body condition, and overall health.

Recommended foods:

• High-quality flakes and pellets

• Frozen foods (brine shrimp, mysis, bloodworms as treats)

• Live foods (optional, but excellent for conditioning and growth)

What You’re Getting from Legacy Line Aquatics

When you purchase from me, you’re getting fish that were bred and raised in-house, not mass-imported and flipped. I take a small-scale approach so I can focus on:

• Fish health

• Clean systems

• Proper feeding, mixture of high quality pellets/flakes, live baby brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms, frozen brine shrimp, and other quality foods

• Parasite free

That matters—especially with angelfish.

Shipping & Live Arrival

Live fish are shipped Monday–Wednesday (weather permitting) to reduce transit risk. Please review our How Shipping Works page and DOA policy before ordering.