Amapa Red Back - Scalare Angelfish 4cm (JUV-NO RED YET)

Amapa Red Back Angelfish

Whilst there are dozens of stunning, man-made angelfish variations in the aquarium trade, it’s truly breathtaking when you see a mature amass red back angelfish. This is one of the true forms of the scalare angelfish that we know and love today, whilst maintaining the stunning wild aesthetic. Amapa angelfish are a fantastic peaceful cichlid species that will be perfectly suited for a community aquarium however a unique aquarium option for these particular fish is to keep them in a blackwater biotope system. 

Amapa red back angelfish get their name due to the amapa region they are found in the wild. As juveniles these fish look somewhat bland with a silver body and broken, vertical barring however these fish age like a fine wine. When fully grown the amapa angelfish will have a mix of silver and bronze shades for the body colour. The barring will also become jet black and run from the eye, just past the pectoral fin, dorsal fin, and just before the tail fin. The most recognisable feature will be the deep, rusty orange nape these fish develop between the eye and dorsal fin. The look of these fish closely resembles the more expensive and coveted true altum angelfish however these fish will be much easier to care for. 

Trying to find the males and females in the amapa redback angelfish is not that easy when they are small. It’s best to purchase a group of 5-6 and let them naturally pair off. Once a pair has been formed, they can be moved to a dedicated breeding tank to ensure optimal success for the fry. however dominant males will develop a small hump on their head. Parents will spawn on a smooth surface which they will spend time cleaning beforehand, this can be on the aquarium glass, filter intake, or a dedicated breeding cone. Parents might eat the eggs during the first few spawns but once they get the hang of it, they will spend time guarding the eggs and newborn fry. 

Tank Recommendations for your Amapa Red Back Angelfish 

Amapa angelfish will get fairly big at full size, these fish can also be slightly territorial to one another in smaller aquariums. They reach around 15 cm long and a decent 20 cm tall, because of this the minimum tank size least 100 litres for a pair. 

Amapa redbacks are not exactly a solitary species and should be kept in mated pairs or shoals. However they will need space as they can be territorial at times, so having a good footprint in the aquarium is always best. A sand or gravel substrate is perfectly fine, but a well-planted aquarium with lots of branching driftwood and rock will be greatly appreciated by these angelfish. 

Suitable Tank Buddies

The Amapa angelfish are fairly peaceful with aggression only ever coming out during breeding with males, however, they may eat very small fish fry and shrimp. With adequate space, these fish will get along with a wide range of community fish. it has however been noted that angelfish can possibly be aggressive against fish species that look similar.

Usually Compatible

Other angelfish, tetras, gouramis, corydoras, dwarf cichlids such as rams, and large peaceful cichlids such as uaru or discus

Sometime Compatible

Semi-aggressive or territorial cichlids like fire mouths, convicts cichlids, and similar species.

Rarely Compatible 

Large aggressive species such as African cichlids, Oscars, and Jaguar cichlids.

Feeding your Amapa Red Back Angelfish

These angelfish are a very easy species to feed. They will take to a wide range of aquarium foods like pellets or flakes. They are naturally an omnivore that feed off plant matter like algae, small insects, and crustaceans. This means a well-balanced aquarium food that has good protein and green content would be best. They will also love a good mix of frozen foods as well.