The Marble Angel Fish, or Pterophyllum scalare, is one of the most beautiful freshwater fish available. Their delicate fins and slim, flat body are very pleasing to look at. The Marble Angle Fish is also the most hardy of freshwater Angle Fish.

This Angel Fish has a good temperament. If raised in a community tank, the Marble Angel will tolerate other fish well. If put into a tank at a mature age, Marble Angels will try to dominate smaller fish. This may result in fighting and injuries. However, the Marble Angel Fish will rarely kill another fish. They are especially aggressive during mating. A typical habitat containing a Marble Angel should include dense rock formations, driftwood and plants. The Marble Angel will nibble on live plants, but live plants are a good source of vegetables. There should be plenty of hiding spaces for the Marble Angel to retreat. The Marble Angel may be seen lying on its side, don't panic, they will often do this when stressed or in shock. Most of the time they will return to their normal swimming patterns after regaining their equilibrium. The Marble Angel is one of the most hearty Angel Fish, making it one of the best choices for someone wanting to experience Angel Fish for the first time.

Angel Fish are named after their calming and graceful motions. Their body, if viewed from the side, looks somewhat like a broad arrowhead. Their dorsal fins are long and narrow, and they have little pectoral fins. Marble Angel Fish get their name from the marbled spots of silver, black and white on their scales.

At a mature age, Marble Angel Fish will reach a size of six inches. It is difficult to distinguish male from female Marble Angel Fish. However, during breeding, males can be spotted by their pointed breed tube. The female breeding tube appears to be blunt. It has been reported that, like some other cichlids, Angel Fish will change their colors based on, stress, mood and environment.

Marble Angel Fish are not the strongest fish. They have a narrow temperature range, from 75 to 82 degrees fahrenheit. They need water with a neutral pH, from 6.8 to 7.2. Marble Angel fish, when in shock or scared, will lay flat on the floor of the tank. This does not mean the end however. Most Marble Angel Fish can recover from this and regain their normal health. The Marble Angel is an omnivore, but it would rather have live food, such as fish, blood worms, glass worms, brine shrimp, and tubifex worms. They should be fed vegetables occasionally, including spinach, lettuce and zucchini. They will settle for frozen and flake foods as well.

When male and female Marble Fish are kept together, they will usually form a 'couple'. They will produce around a 1000 eggs when spawning. Marble Angels are caring parents. They will protect both the eggs and fry. The mating period is when the Marble Angel is most aggressive, so it is a good idea to separate them from other fish while breeding.