| Scientific name | Pterophyllum scalare (line-bred Black Splash strain) |
| Common names | Black Splash Angelfish, Half-Black Angel, Splash Angel |
| Adult size | 5–6 inches (12–15 cm) tall, 3–4 inches long |
| Minimum tank | 55 gallons for one pair, 75+ gallons for community |
| Water parameters | 78–82°F (25–28°C), pH 6.5–7.2, soft to moderately hard |
| Temperament | Generally peaceful, territorial when spawning |
| Care level | Beginner-friendly intermediate |
| Lifespan | 8–10 years |
The Black Splash Angelfish takes the marble gene and dials it down. Hobbyists also call this fish a “Black Angel” or “black angelfish” in shorthand. Whichever name you use, this is a care guide for the same line-bred Pterophyllum scalare with the characteristic concentrated black patches. Where a standard marble pattern distributes black across the entire body in irregular blotches, the Black Splash concentrates black into one or two bold “splashes” against a clean platinum-white body. The effect is graphic and architectural — almost like ink on rice paper. Among the line-bred color morphs of Pterophyllum scalare, the Black Splash is one of the most striking patterns at a moderate price point, which is part of why it has stayed a steady seller for years.
This guide covers what makes the Black Splash genetically distinct from regular marbles, how to evaluate quality before buying, and what to expect setting up a tank for one. If you are planning to buy a Black Splash Angelfish online, see the buying notes at the end.
Origin and Genetics
The Black Splash is a domesticated color line of Pterophyllum scalare, the wild silver angelfish from the Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo basins. The pattern is governed by a combination of the marble gene (dominant, single locus) and modifier genes that limit black spread. Selective breeding over decades has stabilized the “splash” phenotype where the black is restricted to compact patches rather than spreading across the body.
Genetically the fish is identical to any other domestic scalare — same care needs, same temperament, same disease susceptibility. For taxonomic and natural-history background see the Wikipedia entry on Pterophyllum and the FishBase species page for Pterophyllum scalare. The pattern is the only thing the breeders changed.
Identification: A Quality Black Splash
The “splash” pattern is variable, and breeder quality matters. Look for:
- Compact, well-defined black patches. A quality Black Splash has one to three discrete patches with hard edges, not a smeared dark wash across half the body.
- Clean platinum-white body. Background should be bright silver-white with iridescent sheen, not dingy or grey.
- Long, intact fins. Dorsal and anal filaments should taper to fine points.
- Symmetrical body. Tall and disc-shaped, depth roughly equal to body length.
- Bright eyes, alert posture. Often the eye color deepens to ruby red in mature adults.
Juveniles under 1.5 inches show pattern but pattern intensity locks in around 2 inches. Avoid juveniles where black already covers more than half the body — the pattern usually keeps spreading and you end up with a near-black fish, not a splash.
Tank Setup
Black Splash care is identical to any domestic angelfish. They are scalare in every functional respect.
- Tank size: 55-gallon minimum (48″ long × 21″ tall) for one pair. 75+ gallons for a 5–6 fish community.
- Tank shape: tall is better than long. Tanks shorter than 18 inches will eventually clip dorsal fins.
- Temperature: 78–82°F.
- pH: 6.5–7.2.
- Hardness: 4–12 dGH.
- Water changes: 25% weekly, temperature-matched.
Aquascape with tall plants (Amazon swords, vallisneria, giant hygrophila), vertical driftwood for cover and spawning sites, and avoid sharp low decor that catches finnage on a startled fish.
Why a Light-Colored Substrate Helps
The Black Splash pattern shows best against a contrasting background. Dark substrate (black sand) absorbs the visual impact; light substrate (cream-colored sand or natural pea gravel) makes the black-on-white pattern read sharply. This is purely aesthetic but worth knowing if you are choosing materials for the tank.
Diet and Feeding
- Staple: cichlid pellet sized 1–2 mm, 38%+ crude protein.
- Frozen rotation 2–3 times weekly: bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis.
- Greens once weekly: blanched zucchini or spirulina flakes.
- Live foods occasionally: baby brine shrimp, live blackworms — particularly useful for conditioning breeders.
Feed twice daily, only what the fish clear in 60 seconds. The Black Splash has no pigment-specific dietary needs (the black is melanin, which the fish synthesizes from any complete diet), but a varied feeding regime keeps overall pigment health strong and the iridescent silver body bright.
Tankmates
Standard angelfish rules. Outside breeding, an adult Black Splash is mostly indifferent to other fish.
Compatible:
- Larger tetras (rummynose, lemon, congo, black skirt).
- Corydoras catfish (sterbai, agassizii, larger species).
- Bristlenose plecos under 6 inches.
- Apistogramma and ram cichlids in tanks 75 gallons+.
- Hatchetfish, pencilfish, headstanders.
Avoid: tiger barbs and serpae tetras (fin nippers), aggressive cichlids, goldfish, neon and ember tetras (live food in adult angel mouths).
Breeding
Black Splash breeds readily. The challenge is producing predictable splash-pattern offspring. Crossing two splashes gives a Mendelian mix of splash, marble, gold, and silver throwbacks. To stabilize the line, breeders cull aggressively and pair only the cleanest splash patterns over multiple generations.
Pairs form from a group of six juveniles. Spawning, parental care, hatch time, and fry-rearing are identical to other domestic angels: 200–800 eggs on a vertical flat surface, 36–48 hour hatch at 80°F, free-swimming after another 4–5 days, baby brine shrimp from day one of free swimming.
Common Mistakes
- Buying juveniles where black already dominates. The pattern usually grows rather than shrinks. Pick fish with distinct compact patches.
- Tank too short. Below 18″ height the dorsal fin clips.
- Solo fish. Buy six juveniles, let pairs form.
- Mixing with neons. Adult angels eat them.
- Skipping quarantine. 14-day quarantine prevents Hexamita and gill flukes.
- Dark substrate. Visually wastes the splash pattern.
Common Questions About Black Angel Care
Is “Black Angel” the same as “Black Splash Angelfish”?
Yes — “Black Angel” is the casual hobbyist term for the same line-bred Pterophyllum scalare with concentrated black patches. Some sources call it “Black Angelfish” or “Half-Black Angel” depending on how dominantly the black pattern covers the body. All refer to the same underlying genetics — the marble gene paired with modifier genes that limit how the black spreads.
How do I care for a Black Angel?
Identical to any line-bred domestic angelfish: 55-gallon minimum tall tank, 78–82°F, pH 6.5–7.2, weekly 25% water changes. Detailed parameters are in the Tank Setup section above. The black coloring is genetic, not a sign of stress or disease — mature adults often deepen their black patches over time.
Are black angelfish aggressive?
No more than any other angelfish. They are cichlids, so courtship and parenting bring out territorial behavior, but day-to-day aggression is mild. Tankmate compatibility is identical to other domestic angels — see the Tankmates section above.
How big do Black Angelfish get?
Mature adults reach 5–6 inches tall (12–15 cm) with 3–4 inch body length. With long fin filaments fully extended, the total visible height can approach 7–8 inches. They take 12–18 months to reach full size in well-maintained tanks.
Where to Buy Black Splash Angelfish
Pattern quality varies widely between breeders. Mass-bred juveniles often grow into oversized-black or smeared-pattern adults. Specialist breeders cull rigorously and maintain consistent splash phenotypes.
Amazoniafish ships Black Splash Angelfish direct from our Philadelphia facility on overnight FedEx Priority Overnight, UPS Next Day Air or Southwest Cargo. Every order is covered by our 100% Live Arrival Guarantee — if a fish does not arrive alive and healthy, store credit is issued, no questions asked.
For other line-bred color morphs of the same species, see our guides to the Red Devil (Premium Koi), Orange Marble, and Philippine Blue angelfish.