Freshwater angelfish, or Pterophyllum scalare, are a species of cichlid native to South America. These fish can generally be found throughout Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Peru and Brazil in various river systems including the Rio Oyapock, the Rio Essequibo and the Amazon itself. This species may achieve a total length up to 6 inches and may grow up to 8 inches tall. Like most cichlids, they exhibit a laterally compressed body structure which simply means that they are fairly thin. These fish come in a variety of colors and patterns ranging from solid silver to colored stripes or black-and-silver marble. As a species, freshwater angelfish are typically fairly peaceful but they may not get along with very small species. These fish can live ten years or longer and they prefer to be kept in tanks with several of their own species.