Altums

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I've kept both in the same tank before; not many issues were encountered- though domestic strains always looked far too out-of-place amongst the altums, and I eventually resorted to WC Scalare with the altums before I stopped keeping Pterophyllum altogether.
Altum x scalare hybrids exist; I think they're called "Dantums" or something of that sort.
Supposedly altums and scalare have different means of establishing pecking orders, resulting in poor communication and potential aggression between the two, but I never noticed anything of that sort. Doesn't mean it can't happen, though.
 
Thanks for your reply. I was just reading about Dantums. Some say it’s a altum scalare hybrid and others say that’s BS, it’s a Peruvian scarlare. IDK

I do get what you’re saying about them looking incongruous, The Altum look like an angelfish whereas some scarlare have drifted far from their origins. Kinda like the English Bulldog.
 
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Would you happen to know if there’s an adult size difference between the two types of altums available?
 
Can't particularly recall any size differences, but a small-scale importer I've bought from recently got some massive WC altums; Rio Negro, I think. They were larger than the Orinoco I had in the past- though that certainly could be from my fish being younger and comparatively immature.
I don't think there is a very large difference in size between the two main locales, though many state there is a difference in beauty. Been so long since I dabbled in Pterophyllum; can't remember which is which.
Either way, a massive tank is necessary to accommodate their incredible height- large specimens make even 90G tanks look like a cramped bucket.
 
For what should be a simple search, I’m having trouble, but I did read the Atabopo is bigger than the Orinoco. Probably i misspelled the A one. I do find them equally beautiful.
 
For what should be a simple search, I’m having trouble, but I did read the Atabopo is bigger than the Orinoco. Probably i misspelled the A one. I do find them equally beautiful.
Rio "Atabapo" :)

There are still some cultivated strain scalare I can appreciate; for example, some Philippine blues are nice; but anymore I prefer wild types like the spotted Peru scalare (not all Peru scalare are spotted), Amapa red back, Manacapuru, St Isabel... the less common, more expensive ones, of course. :)
 
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Supposedly altums and scalare have different means of establishing pecking orders, resulting in poor communication and potential aggression between the two, but I never noticed anything of that sort. Doesn't mean it can't happen, though.
I find those sorts of things to mostly be exaggerated-- in terms of issues (in a large enough tank). Of course, different species, genera, families, orders, etc. can have variations in body language, social interaction, etc. But no one says "you can't keep cichlids and catfish together because their body language is different." Put them in a tank together and they manage just fine, assuming enough room in a tank and that size, aggression, etc. is compatible.

Ime compatibility or non-compatibility has far more to do with temperament, aggression, or territorial behavior than body language or hierarchy within a species.
 
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