Origin
Also known as AngelFish, the scalar has always been one of the favorite fish of many aquarium lovers and can be kept in aquariums with other species provided that they are not too aggressive and not used to pinching their sensitive fins.
Fast-swimming fish can also stress the scalars and may not allow them to feed enough.Gourams of Colisa and Tricogaster species are ideal partners, as are most cichlids from South America and western Africa. Neons and other small species should not be introduced into the aquarium with scalars unless they are intended to become food…
Being tall fish, scalars require taller aquariums. They are also very sensitive to water quality so it requires a change twice a week of 30% of its volume and an efficient filtration is needed.
There are over 100 species of scalars.
Feeding Scalars
From the point of view of food it is a convenient fish, which prefers live food, no matter which, but also eats dry food in the form of dehydrated flakes, food specially made for them or other Chichlidae. If we feed the scalars with tubifex, they will be given as food only twice a week, especially if we are going to breed these fish.
Wardleys Total Tropical-highly nutritious flakes very similar to Wardleys Angel Flake. It contains plant and invertebrate ingredients for color, vitamin C for tissue repair and disease resistance, and a vitamin supplement. These flakes are considered a high quality food.
Wardleys Angel Flake-the best food for freshwater fish. They contain the ingredients from Total Tropical along with other very high quality ingredients such as shrimp and scallops.
Tetra Min Flake-a very nutritious and appetizing food.
Beef heart mixture-take the heart and beef liver, freeze and cut into small cubes. The general ration is 2/3 heart and 1/3 liver. Other ingredients can be introduced in a small amount (well-boiled egg yolk, spinach).
This is the most nutritious, safest and most economical food we can offer scalars. From this food can easily disturb the water (for less turbidity reduce or eliminate the liver) but with an efficient filtration can solve this problem.
Artemia Salina-the newly hatched artemia may be the first food for the young scalars.
Frozen shrimp - they are given as an additional feed to the beef heart.
Tubifex frozen-are also given as a supplement to beef heart.
Appearance Scalars
The silver zebra scalar is a species of scalar commonly found in U.S. aquariums mostly colored silver with brown and black stripes.
The diamante scalar is a species of scalar colored with white, black and yellow and a pattern like the diamond
The shining white scalar is a species of white color. Some may have golden spots on their heads. Young specimens may have a red coloration under the eyes that will fade with age.
The smoky leopard scalar is a species of scalar with black, grey and silver speckled patterns..
The half-black scalar will bring a sophisticated beauty to your aquarium. The first half is silvery and the second is black.
Features Scalars
The growing temperature is 24 degrees C, but during the breeding period it needs 26-28oc.
It should be taken into account that the scalar does not feel well in the company of other lively fish, instead they can associate with larger fish of the family cichlidae, which have a similar way of life (Cichlasoma festivum). The Association of scalars with discus will be avoided.
Breeding Scalars
The first condition to be able to breed a fish is to be sure that we have at least one pair. We specify that it requires a pair and not two fish (which can be two females that will spawn, one of them fulfilling the role of a virtual male).
To have at least one pair, we will raise 10-12 fish, which we will feed as varied as possible, with live food (less tubifex), with frequent water changes and ensuring all water quality conditions : hardness, pH and temperature. The chickens we will raise must be well proportioned, healthy, and have the desired color to perpetuate.
After about 10 months, the iris of the fish will turn red, a sign that they have become sexually mature. From this moment we will carefully observe the aquarium to see how a pair (who chooses himself) retreats into a corner, where he begins to clean a leaf, air hose or even the glass of the aquarium. The pair will drive away by aggressive movements the other fish, defending their territory.
If at this time we have another aquarium prepared (with water at the same temperature and with the same properties), then we will move this first pair into it, soon among the remaining scalars a new pair will be chosen.
For a pair of scalars, for breeding we recommend an aquarium with the following dimensions: L=450mm, l = 250 mm, H = 450 mm. It is noticeable that the aquarium has a high height, which is especially necessary for veiled forms.
Scalar disease, also known as" scalar AIDS", appears to affect scalars in particular, while most other tropical fish species appear to be unaffected. A fine coating (not moldy) is the main indicator that is associated with swimming to the surface of the aquarium for air in the later part of life.
It seems that the disease withstands all medicines and the fish will soon die. Because it is so difficult to treat with antibiotics, many believe it is a virus. The suggested drugs are Oxytetracycline, Tetracycline or Gentamicin.
