In this blog we will discuss high coverage koi angelfish.We will discuss their genetics and colouration.
Overview
In this blog
- What is a high coverage koi angelfish?
- High coverage koi angelfish
- High coverage koi angelfish habitat
- High coverage angelfish colouration
- Do high coverage koi angelfish colors fade over time?
- Best food for high coverage koi angelfish
- High coverage angelfish care
- High coverage koi angelfish breeding
- Summary
- Frequently asked questions
- Reference
What is a high coverage koi angelfish?
High coverage koi angelfish has very complex color genetics. The only known gene interactions are between the Gold marble and Stripeless alleles. The expression of orange pigment is highly variable, but the total number of genes involved is not known.
It is not known exactly what it takes to produce good expression. A balanced and stress-free environment is essential for good angelfish coloration,and foods rich in carotenoids are also necessary for developing and maintaining this characteristic.
Angelfish cannot produce the orange pigment on its own, only carotenoid based food can provide them with the nutrients they need for getting those orange pigments.
Therefore, if the food does not contain carotenoids, the carp will not contain oranges. Don’t worry too much about the food you’re feeding your fish, as most commonly available fish foods contain a good amount of carotenoids.
It seems that orange coverage is mostly determined by genetics, but it is also greatly influenced by the environment.
High coverage koi angelfish
| Name | High coverage koi angelfish |
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Species | Angelfish |
| Scientific name | Pterophyllum sp |
Pterophyllum scalare is one of the most commonly kept species of fish, and still remains popular today. Many different varieties of angelfish have been created as a result of its popularity through selective breeding.
In the wild, angelfish can be silver with dark stripes, but in the pet stores it is possible to find many different colors like gold, marble, black and more.
The Koi variety has a more intense orange coloration than the gold marbled variety, and it has less marbling.
High coverage koi have diamond-shaped bodies, triangular dorsal and anal fins, and can grow up to 6 inches in length and 8 inches or more in height.
High coverage koi angelfish habitat
The high coverage koi angelfish is native to several river systems in North America, but almost all specimens in the aquarium hobby have been raised in tanks. The Koi angelfish will do well in an aquarium with plenty of driftwood and rock formations and gentle water flow.
High coverage angelfish colouration
Coloration in any angelfish is difficult to judge because so much of it is due to environmental factors, stress, and/or genetics.
Stress, the type of food a fish eats, and other factors out of the fish’s control can lead to dull coloration. If you want to breed fish, provide them with good food, a good environment, and be observant to see if the fish’s color improves.
If the color of your angelfish does not improve, then you may want to consider not breeding them.
Do high coverage koi angelfish colors fade over time?
The high coverage angelfish color can fade if they are under stress. As a general rule, the younger a fish is, the less intense its color will be, even in ideal water conditions.
The high coverage angelfish color fades somewhat when caught in a net. Shipping causes them to fade, aggressive stalking of fish, overfeeding, a tank that scares them, too many plants depleting oxygen at night, stress of reproduction and many other stresses can cause color to fade.
According to some angelfish keepers, the color of koi received is not as intense as when shipped.Besides, some people just have bad luck. There seems to be a water quality issue that is preventing the fish’s colors from being as vibrant as they should be. They are able to receive fish with great intensity, but they will never be able to reproduce it in their fry.
Generally, koi fish that have the right conditions will display a more intense color as they age.At the same time, coverage generally decreases slightly as the fish matures.
Best food for high coverage koi angelfish
High coverage angelfish feed at the surface or mid-water, but often forage along the bottom looking for worms and small crustaceans.
They are omnivores and will be happy with aqueon tropical flakes, color flakes, tropical granules and shrimp pellets in aquarium settings.
Crustaceans such as brine shrimp are an excellent way to enhance the coloration of angelfish, as are frozen or freeze-dried foods such as mysis shrimp, krill and other crustaceans.
It’s important to remember that color enhancing foods shouldn’t be relied on as a staple since they are seldom nutritionally complete, and can actually lead to deficiencies in your fish.
Top food for high coverage angelfish:
- TetraMin plus tropical flakes fish food
- Aqueon tropical flakes freshwater fish food
- Tetra bloodworms freeze-dried fish food
- API fish food flakes.
- Fluval bug bites granules.
- Hikari first bites.
High coverage koi angelfish care
High coverage angelfish can live ten or twelve years and can reach sizes of 6-12 inches, especially if they’re kept in larger aquariums. Due to their large and diamond shaped body, these fish prefer taller tanks and do not do well in smaller or crowded tanks.
The water flow in an aquarium should be gentle in order to keep the fish safe and to avoid disturbing the tank’s delicate ecosystem. The tank should include large broadleaf plants & driftwood that is arranged vertically to simulate downed branches and trees.
High coverage koi angelfish will also do well in an aquarium with water temperatures between 75-86F,which allows them to handle high water temperatures that would normally stress most other fish.
High coverage koi angelfish breeding
High coverage koi angelfish are relatively easy to breed in captivity. To breed them, you need to first gather a large group of them, check to see if any have paired up, and then remove your paired fish and place them in a tank designed for breeding. With proper care and attention, your Angelfish will lay and fertilize eggs.
The eggs of the angelfish take a short time to hatch, and depending on the conditions in the tank, hatching can occur 2-3 days after spawning. When the eggs hatch, they do not become free swimmers immediately, but stay at the spawning site for another 3-4 days.
Summary
Most angelfish breeders selectively breed fish to isolate specific physical attributes, such as color, markings and scale texture. The koi angelfish have excellent genetics that can result in strong coloration and coverage, even on their fins.
The color of high coverage koi angelfish changes depending on their mood. As they become more agitated, the orange tone deepens.
The high coverage koi angelfish needs to be fed a balanced diet that includes both vegetables and meaty foods. Feed your fish high-quality food as well as live and frozen foods. Examples include brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Angelfish are hardy and easy to keep in an aquarium, even if you are a beginner. Adding new fish to an established tank doesn’t require special care; you just need to keep the tank’s water parameters in check and give the fish the food they need to maintain their colouration.
Quick facts about high coverage angelfish:
| Care level | Easy |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Color forms | Gold, marble, black, orange and more |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Water parameters | pH 6.8 and 7.8, water hardness 3° and 8° dKH and temperature 75° and 86° F. |
| Maximum size | 6-12 inches |
| Origin | Selective- bred |
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Compatibility | Active and similar size species |
| Genetics | Strong |
Frequently asked questions
Are high coverage Koi angelfish able to change colors?
Yes,high coverage angelfish can change color, depending on their environment and mood. They have chromatophores and iridophores in their skin, which work together to reflect light and create the vibrant color of their scales, along with melanosomes, which control the distribution of melanin.
What is the lifespan of high coverage koi angelfish?
High coverage angelfish can live up to ten years in captivity if they are provided with proper aquarium conditions and a diet rich in colorful food.
What is the correct water parameter for high coverage angelfish?
High coverage angelfish water pH should be between 6.8 and 7.8, with hardness between 3° and 8° dKH and temperature is best kept between 75° and 86° F.
Can you keep high coverage angelfish with tank companions?
The best tank mates for high coverage angelfish would be fish that are fast and active, and don’t have long fins.
- Corydoras catfish
- Dwarf gourami
- Boesemani rainbowfish
- Praecox rainbowfish
- Zebra loach
Can you feed plant based food to your high coverage angelfish?
Yes, you should feed a plant based diet also containing carotenoids to your angelfish.This will enhance their colouration naturally.
