Dalmation Angelfish 3.5cm

Dalmation Angelfish

Dalmation angelfish has long been one of the most popular angelfish colour strains in the aquarium hobby. The Dalmation angelfish was developed by crossing the platinum and black angelfish together to create a uniquely patterned and contrasting fish that is loved all over the world. As more and more newer strains have come into popularity these fish have fallen out of the spotlight but they are still beautiful fish in any aquarium setting.

The name for these fish is pretty self-explanatory as they have a very close resemblance to the Dalmation dog breed. The base colour for these fish is the same as platinum angelfish with a metallic pearl white body which has a mild blue sheen. This reflects light like a mirror in the aquarium which is why these fish stand out so much. To break up this white, there’s an assortment of random jet-black spots that run from head to tail. The benefit here is that no two fish look the same, the positioning, placement, and number of spots are different in every fish. Angelfish are one of the first species that aquarists will breed because of how proficiently these fish spawn in the aquarium. A lot of fun can be had experimenting with colours and genetics which affect the reflection of scales or length of fins.

Trying to find the males and females in not only the Dalmation angel but angelfish, in general, is somewhat difficult when they are small, however dominant males will develop a small nuchal hump on their head. One can be 100% certain only when a breeding pair is formed. The best way to ensure this happens is to start with a small group of 5-6 fish and let them pair off naturally. Dalmation angelfish are not found in the wild as they are a captive-bred and man-made colour variation however the angelfish, in general, is from South America.

Tank Recommendations for your Dalmation Angelfish

The Dalmation angel is a colour variation of the common scalare angelfish species meaning it has the same aquarium needs as any other angelfish variety. At full adult size, they reach around 15 cm long, and a decent 20 cm tall, because of this they would need to be kept in a tank that is at least 100 litres.

Dalmation angelfish 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 Dalmation angelfish is fairly peaceful with aggression only ever coming out during breeding 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 be aggressive against fish species that look similar.

Usually Compatible

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

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 Dalmation Angelfish

Angelfish in general are a very easy species to feed that will take to a wide range of aquarium foods like pellets or flakes. They are naturally omnivores 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.