Pterophylum leopoldi wild angel

Longnose / Leopoldi Angel (Pterophyllum leopoldi) A distinctive wild relative of the well-known Freshwater Angelfish (P. scalare), the Longnose or Leopoldi Angel is known from the Rio Negro drainage in Brazil and some middle Amazon tributaries. With a much less elongated body and shorter fins than most other wild type angels, this species can easily be distinguished by their prominent black spot below the dorsal fin and namesake longer “nose“ than its congeners. In the aquarium, they are peaceful for a cichlid but more pushy and sometimes aggressive than the typical Freshwater Angelfish. The Leopoldi Angelfish is a hardy fish that will do well in a variety of conditions in the aquarium but slightly soft, warmer water is preferred. Specimens from the Rio Demini (a tributary of the middle Rio Negro in Brazil) are known for their striking iridescent blue/green coloration, especially around the gill plate.