Angelfish vs Guppy

Pterophyllum scalare comparado com Poecilia reticulata

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Angelfish	Guppy
Nome Científico	Pterophyllum scalare	Poecilia reticulata
Ordem	Cichliformes	Cyprinodontiformes
Família	Cichlidae	Poeciliidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Angelfish	Guppy
Comprimento Máximo	15,0 cm	6,0 cm
Peso Máximo	0,03 kg	0,002 kg
Cor	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.	Males display highly variable iridescent patterns on a gray-olive body; spots, reticulations, and solid patches of red, orange, blue, green, and black; flowing fantail fins often multicolored.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Angelfish	Guppy
Tipo de Água	Freshwater	Brackish
Faixa de Profundidade	—	—
Distribuição 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 freshwater and slightly brackish streams of northern South America including Venezuela, Trinidad, and Barbados. Tolerates a wide range of salinities; introduced on every …
Habitat	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.	Slow-moving rivers, streams, ponds, and drainage ditches of northern South America (Venezuela, Trinidad). Warm, shallow water with dense vegetation (22-28°C). Highly adaptable; introduced worldwide.

Aquarium Suitability

Atributo	Angelfish	Guppy
Tamanho Mínimo do Aquário	190 L	38 L
Temperatura	24-28	22-28
Faixa de pH	6.0-7.5	6.8-7.8
Nível 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.

Guppy

Not consumed — a tiny ornamental livebearer prized by hobbyists for its dazzling color variations and ease of breeding in the aquarium.

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.

Guppy

The guppy is one of the most widely distributed tropical fish, found in freshwater habitats across the Americas. Males display vivid colors and elaborate tail patterns to attract females. They are live-bearers, giving birth to free-swimming fry.