Angelfish vs Peacock Bass

Pterophyllum scalare comparado con Cichla temensis

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Angelfish	Peacock Bass
Nombre Científico	Pterophyllum scalare	Cichla temensis
Orden	Cichliformes	Cichliformes
Familia	Cichlidae	Cichlidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Angelfish	Peacock Bass
Longitud Máxima	15,0 cm	100,0 cm
Peso Máximo	0,03 kg	12,7 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.	Golden-yellow to olive-green body with three bold dark vertical bars on the flanks; a striking black ocellus edged in gold at the tail base; breeding males develop a prominent nuchal hump.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Angelfish	Peacock Bass
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 the Amazon River basin and Orinoco River system in South America, including Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil. Inhabits blackwater rivers, flooded forests, and large …
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.	Native to Southeast Asian rivers including the Mekong basin. Warm, slow-moving freshwater with soft substrates. Introduced to tropical aquaculture systems globally. Tolerates wide temperature range …

Aquarium Suitability

Atributo	Angelfish	Peacock Bass
Tamaño Mínimo del Acuario	190 L	—
Temperatura	24-28	—
Rango de pH	6.0-7.5	—
Nivel de Cuidado	Moderate	—
Temperamento	Semi-Aggressive	—

Información de Pesca

Atributo	Angelfish	Peacock Bass
Pez de Pesca Deportiva	No	Sí
Clasificación de Pelea	—	9/10
Récord Mundial	—	—
Nivel de Mercurio	—	—

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.

Peacock Bass

Firm, white flesh with a clean, mild flavor and low fat content. Prized table fish throughout Amazonian cuisines; excellent grilled, pan-fried, or steamed with citrus.

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.

Peacock Bass

The peacock bass is the crown jewel of Amazon basin sport fishing. Despite its name, it is actually a large cichlid. Known for explosive topwater strikes and powerful, drag-screaming runs in tropical rivers and lagoons.