Family: Cichlidés
Kind: Pterophyllum 
Species: altum (certain specialists regard P. altum as a subspecies of P. scalare, because, in Rio Negro, there are fish with the characteristics intermediary) 
Local Name: will acara will bandeira scientific 
Nom: Pterophyllum altum PELLEGRIN, 1903 
Etymology: Pterophyllum=fins in the shape of sheets, altum=high, with the proud body.
Origin: réseau higher of l. Orénoque (Venezuela) and of Rio negro (Brazil)

Descriptions:

I will mention here only his high and compressed shape laterally typical of fish living in mediums with weak current, the powerful muscles of his pectoral fins, his dark vertical tapes which are used to him as camouflage, its mouth protractile, and finally the encoche above the eyes, variable according to the individual or the âge. Undetectable sexual dimorphism in practice apart from the period of reproduction. Certain authors claim that l. individual which dominates in a group is often a male, and that the females have a flatter back. Biotope During the dry season, the altums live close to the abrupt banks d. où come out of many roots coming from the surrounding vegetation. It n.y has that very few truly watery plants. The bed of the river is dark and encumbered branches La light which manages to perforate canopée is still reduced by l. eau tinted tanins Le running there is very weak. During the rain season, all the area is flooded, which gets territories immense for the reproduction. They would often drive out in the lower part of the formed floating remains islands. L. eau In its biotope, l. eau is acide (pH between 4.8 and 6.2), and very soft (GH and KH of 1 or 2°all), it limpid but is tinted brown. The temperature is d. environ 30°C. La conductivity is de+/-10µs. L. eau in l. aquarium can be a little less acid (pH 6.5) and contain a little more salts dissolves (GH and KH of 5°all) in order to d. obtenir more plugged water. The temperature can be lowered to 27.5°C to maintain the plants in good condition. L. eau will be changed regularly to avoid any acidosis and to contain less possible nitrate. One can, if the plants allow it, filter on peat to recreate l. eau d. origine. The automatic CO2 diffusion is a practical solution to obtain the pH desired L. aquarium It will be largest possible, especially in height. It should not be forgotten that these fish become tall and qu. il is necessary to at least keep them by group of 6. A good compromise being an aquarium of 180(L)*50(l)*70(h).Le bottom will be dark and the decoration will be mainly made up of roots vertically positioned in order to create hiding-places in connection with the particular form of the " scalars " La rear window, as well as the 2 side ones will be painted in black in order to make safe fish. The flow of filtration will be 1.5 * the volume of the vat per hour. L. éclairage weak, or but will be filtered better, extremely by floating plants. L. idéal is that the light s. allume and s. éteigne gradually, the altums s. effrayant quickly. The choice to plant or not is personal, but c. est good for l. équilibre d. un aquarium and that approaches the natural biotope during the rain season, when the vegetation is submerged. One will choose plants supporting the more evoked characteristic haut. (Cryptocoryne parva, Cryptocoryne albida, Aponogeton crispus, Anubias barteri, Vesicularia dubyana, Vallisneria spiralis, Limnophila heterophylla). It is necessary to take care has to leave a space released on le1/3 before vat not to block the stroke of fish. Cohabiting Let us choose calm species requiring the same conditions of maintenance and not spoiling with the imposing presence of the altums (they do not support the mediocrity!). Citons among d. autres: Papiliochromis ramirezi, Hemigrammus rhodostomus, Mesonauta fetivus, Symphysodon discus, Hypancistrus will zebra, etc. Personnellement, je the maintenances with of Cheirodon axelrodi which come from the same area and which contrast admirably by the form and the color with the altums Ils have in more l. avantage to nourish fine particles forsaken by large fish. I n.ai have has to undergo predation jusqu. à present, but it is necessary nevertheless to take care has what the " cardinalis " are not too small and qu.ils was high unit since the beginning. It is amusing to note that in spite of their agility, the "cardinalis" avoid the altums prudently. Let us not surpeuplons our aquari.

In nature they are omnivorous with a predilection for the zooplancton. I nourished them with: **time-out** - artémias defrost, - mysis defrost, - cichlid mix defrost, - mixture house containing shrimp raw and d. épinards, - daphnid defrost and alive, - worm of mud white defrost, - worm of mud black defrost and alive, - spangle of good quality, - granulate of good quality, - spangle of spiruline, - worm of ground alive, - gamares alive, - caterpillar glabres alive, - cyclops defrost (too much small) - dylis defrost (small fish), - drosophila alive, - krill chop and defrost. J. ajoute réguliérement with food a polyvitaminée solution, vitamin b12 and E, yeast of bierre, soft paprika, a solution d. oligo-elements. I seldom distribute ox heart and worms of alive red muds bus c. est disadvised by some for medical reasons or dietetics. The lists of accepted food n. est not restrictive and depends mainly on the perseverance of l.aquariophile and even of each fish in particular. I think qu .il is of primary importance to vary l. alimentation as much as possible, with from time to time the alive one, to keep fish in good health. Better is worth to often nourish little but, and a weekly diet can for only be beneficial them.

Behavior:

The behavior of Cichlidés being often interesting, P. altum does not derogate from the rule; a hierarchy s. établit in the group with its dominant and its dominated. This phenomenon is amplified by containment. It is enough d. ajouter new " a altum " so that this hierarchy changes. C. est as lack of place j. ai introduces a young person altum into a vat which contained of them already two others, one dominated, and, dominating. The new one come was naturally made scold, but which was not my surprise to see l. ancian dominated to take l. assurance and s. octroyer a share of territory. This experiment so learned m. a qu .il is never necessary to keep these fish in group of less than six specimens, because then, l. agressivity is distributed on a greater number and it n.y has more scapegoat. The variations of colors and d. attitude are varied, but not always easy to interpret. D. après my observations and under any reserve, stressed P. altum or patient present of the very pale vertical bars, an excited individual is recognized with a black comma in top of l. opercule, P. altum which wants to show its force, s. assombris, draws aside the ventral fins and draws up its odd fins to the maximum. **time-out** S.il himself be opposite d.un other of the same force, it can either feinter a attack, either himself put coast have coast in incline the head and in lower its dorsal fin dorsale with 45° very in continue its "cinema" Si really it be necessary resort with force for in découdre, the two fish s. attrapent by the mouth and himself push l.un l. autre. If P. altum does not want to fight, it presents its throat to its adversary as a sign of tender. Apart from these spectacular demonstrations, the dominant ones regularly gives small blows on the inferiors to ensure their supremacies. J.ai already noticed certain behaviors that I n. ai not pus to explain such as: assombrissement the ventral ones, darkening of only certain vertical tapes, very fast quiver but of low amplitude of the higher ray of the caudal fin, contraction of the body by a convulsif movement (assistance with digestion?), yawn (désenkiloser the protractile mouth?), repeated slapping of the mouth (signal perceived by the side line of other P. altum?). To finish, I will mention the fact that these fish s. effrayent very easily.

Reproduction:

I have relatively little information on this subject, but it must be rather close to that of P. scalare. J. usquà present it n. a succeeded qu. exceptionnellement in Germany, in Japan, in the United States, and in France. To make a success of this repro, it is necessary d. élever under very good conditions a group of minimum six nonconsanguineous individuals so that the couple can be chosen naturally. If one is likely to see a couple being formed (the two fish parade between them without qu. il overcame there and they s. isolent group), nothing n.est still made. C.est only if one laying occurs that l. on will be able to transfer the couple in a vat only for them, for example cubic and having a good height. The quatres faces and the bottom will be obscured. L. éclairage will be weak and the night, one will simulate a moonlight with a pilot. In this vat without ground, one will install supports of laying such as large anubias, echinodorus, cone for discus, PVC tube, slates, pieces d. un seal out of plastic, etc. L. eau d. un pH of +-6, d. un GH of +-2°all, d. une t° of 30.5°C, will have a conductivity of 30 µs. The flow of filtration will be 1 * the volume of the vat per hour, free with being still tiny room at the time of fecundation itself. One can plan to filter on peat, diatom or UV One will renew l. eau tous.les. jours in petittes quantities or better by drop by drop. One will add with l. eau oligo-éléments. Pour to start the abrasion, one can test the traditional methods: to introduce one will corydoras to discharge l. agressivity from the couple; to make a significant change d. eau fresher, more acid, and more oxygenated; retour d.eau of the filter by bored cane; to vary the flow of the filter; to decrease then to increase the temperature; faire a young person of some days followed d. une distribution of food vivante (je thinks of the worms of red muds); changer the provision of the supports of laying; to make a cure of vitamin; attendre a fall of atmospheric pressure; to wait the natural period of reproduction of P. altum (= our winters).

Disease:

Enough delicate, it is significant to l.acquérir in very good medical state, because sick once, it is almost impossible to cure. I know a tradesman who in lost a whole batch despite everything the qu. il processing has effectué. Tout newcomer will undergo forty to avoid any contamination. The old proverb, prevention is better than cure takes all its direction here. A sick " altum " becomes very timorous, and panics for one anything. (J.imagine qu. il feels vulnerable). Personally, following a removal, my fish have sudden an attack of worms of the gills that j.ai treated without great results with a half proportions " GYRODACTOL ". The fish s. en are disencumbered d. eux even with time and much of changes d. eau. In addition to the affection traditional, the "altums" would be often victim of the rot of the fins which theirs would be fatal. (les hybrid P altum / P scalare are less sensitive). Altum or not altum? I regret the lack transparency seeing d. honnêteté which reigns in certain tradesmen. It is almost impossible to know l. sold fish. C.est as as would say my friend Jean-Luc, it is of P. altum which n.ont top and savage that the price. L. existence of specimens of P scalare very resembling P altum in Rio Téfé n. arrange nothing. Only a scientific examination (it is necessary to count the d. écailles number between certain points) will be able to answer this question. D. après a tradesman of Wavre, there exists a variety of P altum called " Guyana " (?).

Bibliography:

Principal source: Les scalar commun runs and scalars " altum " of M.Salvadori édition of vecchi