Angel Fish Melbourne for Saturday Critter

 

Another image from my old home aquarium, captured years ago with the faithful Pentax K20D. The colours remain surprisingly vivid — cool, fluid hues that seem to breathe anew with each glance.

At the centre drifts an angelfish, elegant and deliberate, its fins like silken banners unfurling in slow motion. Native to the quiet, shaded tributaries of the Amazon Basin, the angelfish glides among submerged roots and dappled light in its natural home, where the waters are soft, warm, and rich with life. Its form — tall, slender, almost ethereal — evolved for that still world of reeds and reflection.

In the glass confines of an aquarium, it retains its ancestral poise: a creature both ornamental and ancient, carrying within its gentle movements the memory of a forested river far away. Even after all these years, the photograph recalls that serene moment — the living jewel suspended in liquid light, timeless and tranquil.

Pentax K20D

DA 70mm f2.4 limited 

Linking Saturday Critter

Angel Fish Melbourne for Saturday Critter

 

I once kept angelfish in my home aquarium, a hobby that began with Joel’s enthusiasm and soon became my own. What started as a pastime eventually turned into a modest enterprise, as we found ourselves breeding and selling these elegant creatures for profit. Angelfish, however, are notoriously delicate to breed, requiring pristine water conditions, precise acidity levels, and absolute absence of ammonia — a challenge that demands both patience and precision.

In their natural habitat, angelfish (Pterophyllum species) are native to the slow-moving, vegetation-rich waters of the Amazon Basin and its tributaries in South America. Their laterally compressed, disc-like bodies and elongated fins allow them to glide gracefully among submerged roots and reeds, perfectly camouflaged against dappled light and shadow. Renowned for their regal bearing and subtle iridescence, they are among the most striking of freshwater ornamental fish, combining beauty with a temperament that reflects both curiosity and a touch of aloofness.

Pentax K20D

FE 15mm f1.8 Limited 

Linking Saturday Critter