Angelfish vs Neon Tetra

Pterophyllum scalare comparado con Paracheirodon innesi

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Angelfish	Neon Tetra
Nombre Científico	Pterophyllum scalare	Paracheirodon innesi
Orden	Cichliformes	Characiformes
Familia	Cichlidae	Characidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Angelfish	Neon Tetra
Longitud Máxima	15,0 cm	3,0 cm
Peso Máximo	0,03 kg	0,001 kg
Color	Silver to pale gold body with four bold black vertical bars including one through the eye; tall triangular dorsal and ventral fins are translucent silver; domesticated forms include gold, black, and marbled variants.	Electric iridescent blue-green stripe from eye to adipose fin; vivid red stripe from mid-body to tail base; back olive-brown; belly silvery-white; all fins transparent and colorless.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Angelfish	Neon Tetra
Tipo de Agua	Freshwater	Freshwater
Rango de Profundidad	—	—
Distribución Geográfica	Native to the Amazon River basin and associated river systems in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. Inhabits densely vegetated floodplain swamps, flooded igapó forests, and slow …	Native to blackwater tributaries of the upper Amazon River basin in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. Inhabits slow, acidic, tannin-stained streams and flooded forest areas in …
Hábitat	Slow-moving rivers and flooded forests of the Amazon basin, particularly white-water and clear-water rivers. Warm water (24-30°C); inhabits areas with submerged vegetation and driftwood.	Warm, soft-water rivers and streams of the upper Amazon and Perú in South America. Prefers slow-moving blackwater with dense vegetation (pH 5.5-7.5, 20-26°C). Dense schooling …

Aquarium Suitability

Atributo	Angelfish	Neon Tetra
Tamaño Mínimo del Acuario	190 L	40 L
Temperatura	24-28	20-26
Rango de pH	6.0-7.5	6.0-7.0
Nivel de Cuidado	Moderate	Easy
Temperamento	Semi-Aggressive	Peaceful

Cuisine & Edibility

Angelfish

Not consumed — a graceful ornamental cichlid valued for its triangular body shape and striking vertical banding; widely kept in freshwater community tanks.

Neon Tetra

Not consumed — ornamental aquarium species kept for its vivid iridescent stripe and peaceful schooling behavior.

Species Overview

Angelfish

The freshwater angelfish is a majestic cichlid with a laterally compressed body and long, flowing dorsal and anal fins. Native to the Amazon basin, it has been selectively bred into numerous color varieties including marble, koi, and platinum.

Neon Tetra

The neon tetra is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish, known for its iridescent blue and red horizontal stripes. Native to blackwater streams of the Amazon basin, it thrives in schools of six or more.