Angelfish vs Tarpon

Pterophyllum scalare comparado com Megalops atlanticus

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Angelfish	Tarpon
Nome Científico	Pterophyllum scalare	Megalops atlanticus
Ordem	Cichliformes	Elopomorpha
Família	Cichlidae	Megalopidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Vulnerable

Physical Traits

Atributo	Angelfish	Tarpon
Comprimento Máximo	15,0 cm	250,0 cm
Peso Máximo	0,03 kg	161,0 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.	Brilliant chrome-silver flanks with large, plate-like reflective scales producing a mirror-like sheen; back is dark blue-green; fins clear to dusky with elongated dorsal ray.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Angelfish	Tarpon
Tipo de Água	Freshwater	Freshwater & Saltwater
Faixa de Profundidade	—	0-40m
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 …	Western and eastern Atlantic from Virginia south through the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and along the South American coast to Brazil; also West Africa. …
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.	Coral reefs, estuaries

Aquarium Suitability

Atributo	Angelfish	Tarpon
Tamanho Mínimo do Aquário	190 L	—
Temperatura	24-28	—
Faixa de pH	6.0-7.5	—
Nível de Cuidado	Moderate	—
Temperamento	Semi-Aggressive	—

Informações de Pesca

Atributo	Angelfish	Tarpon
Peixe Esportivo	Não	Sim
Classificação de Resistência	—	10/10
Recorde Mundial	—	—
Nível de Mercúrio	—	—

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.

Tarpon

Bony flesh with a strong, somewhat coarse texture; rarely eaten in modern sport fishing. Primarily catch-and-release; not commonly consumed due to bones and Vulnerable status.

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.

Tarpon

The tarpon is often called the 'Silver King' for its large mirror-like scales and acrobatic leaps. This ancient species has existed for over 100 million years and can breathe air using a modified swim bladder.