Have a pygmy in my 40 gallon reef with gonis, blastos, zoas and duncans. Once in a while, it may nip a coral but moves on. Sometimes it chases the blennies and gobies but no damage. Years ago, had a trio of pygmies in a 50 gallon reef.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Hey @footgal did you find the cherub to be same aggressiveness as a Flameback?I’ve had great experiences with flamebacks and cherubs in zoa/softy dominant tanks as well as sps. They’re gorgeous and so cute!
I found the cherubs to be more predictable than the flamebacks. When you get a mean flameback they are MEAN but a ‘bad’ cherub usually has a problem with a specific fish in a specific area for like a week. In my case, the cherub HATED one of my clowns being in a duncan and I have no idea why. They fought for about a week, some chasing and a little bit of torn fins was the extent of the damage. I guess maybe after a week the cherub just kinda gave up and realized that the clown wasn’t gonna move and he had to deal with it?Hey @footgal did you find the cherub to be same aggressiveness as a Flameback?
I had to trap my flameback and return to LFS. He battered my yellow watchman goby so bad it finally jumped to its death through gap in my screen top. Almost killed my clown too, beat him up and swim bladder burst.
I was seriously considering a small cherub, but I’m a little gunshy now. 60 gal cube is my tank.
Hey @footgal did you find the cherub to be same aggressiveness as a Flameback?
I had to trap my flameback and return to LFS. He battered my yellow watchman goby so bad it finally jumped to its death through gap in my screen top. Almost killed my clown too, beat him up and swim bladder burst.
I was seriously considering a small cherub, but I’m a little gunshy now. 60 gal cube is my tank.
Thank you so much! This is very helpful.I found the cherubs to be more predictable than the flamebacks. When you get a mean flameback they are MEAN but a ‘bad’ cherub usually has a problem with a specific fish in a specific area for like a week. In my case, the cherub HATED one of my clowns being in a duncan and I have no idea why. They fought for about a week, some chasing and a little bit of torn fins was the extent of the damage. I guess maybe after a week the cherub just kinda gave up and realized that the clown wasn’t gonna move and he had to deal with it?
Out of the 5-6 cherubs I’ve ever had (or that my dad has had, I just asked him this as well) my current one is the most aggressive and the above event is the reason. I’ve never had one pick on corals or chase EVERY fish in the tank. It’s always just been one fish, in a very particular area that ticks the cherub off. I have my other clown in a hammer not even 3” away from the duncan and the cherub doesn’t care about that clown and it doesn’t care about the duncan clown if it’s away from the duncan.
So, by all means, I suggest trying a cherub. A 60 cube should be way more than enough territory for one to establish its little area and to be happy and a good tank mate. You’ll find that they are actually very curious and that they actually like to seek out activities to to to have fun! I have a small pile of rubble in the back of the tank just to build weird arches and stuff so I can watch the cherub gleefully swim through all the arches and holes and things. He has found the tiniest gaps in the rock work to wiggle through and I swear he looks proud when he finds a new hole. They’re really awesome fish and ,as you experienced, they have very pronounced personalities if you take the time to get to know them. I wish you the best of luck with your cherub!
I find that a harem of dwarf angels are one of the most rewarding fish that I can keep. Never keep a reef tank without at least a pair of angels, other than my small, less than 40 gal reefsThank you so much! This is very helpful.
A cherub is gonna be in my next group of fish.
Maybe that was my problem. I had one. It was gorgeous and definitely inquisitive. One of the smartest fish and not afraid of anything (which thank goodness made it easy to trap).I find that a harem of dwarf angels are one of the most rewarding fish that I can keep. Never keep a reef tank without at lest a pair of angels, other than my small, less than 40 gal reefs
I had an Eibl's in a fish only tank and later moved him to a ~35 gallon reef tank. Had no problems with him getting after anybody- he was an all around great inhabitant.So I want to add a smaller angelfish to my mixed 45gallon reef tank. I have considered cherubs, flame angelfish and coral beautys but have all heard they may nip at corals which I want to avoid. I know that is hit or miss depending on the fish but I have two questions.
1. Which of the smaller angelfish are the best in your opinion (personality, aggression, etc.)?
2. What is the best way to minimize coral aggression or nipping?
Yep, that was him. He seemed to do very well in the reef tank, appeared healthy, and never bothered anyone. I wish I could remember what I was feeding him, but that would take me back over 10 years...
With the fish that You have, I think a Pygmy angel or Royal Gramma are both good choices. A Royal Gramma may be slightly safer. Much depends on the individual fish & the size of Your tank ? Provide lots of Hiding places, and the angelfish will be out & swimming much more often. Over My 47 years of Marine fish, I've had lots of both fish. C. argi are one of My favorites. One of mine lived 7 1/2 years. Royal Grammas, maybe 2 years. They are not long-lived. Good luck !Hmm I only have a pretty docile clownfish, a bangai cardinalfish, goby/shrimp pair and wanted to add a royal gramma eventually but I think the Cherub are beautiful fish
Agreed, my flameback is so aggressive regardless of what size the fish is. She can kill any fish but luckily her and my multicolor angel get along. Also it hasn’t nipped any corals for more than a year so good thingI found the cherubs to be more predictable than the flamebacks. When you get a mean flameback they are MEAN but a ‘bad’ cherub usually has a problem with a specific fish in a specific area for like a week. In my case, the cherub HATED one of my clowns being in a duncan and I have no idea why. They fought for about a week, some chasing and a little bit of torn fins was the extent of the damage. I guess maybe after a week the cherub just kinda gave up and realized that the clown wasn’t gonna move and he had to deal with it?
Out of the 5-6 cherubs I’ve ever had (or that my dad has had, I just asked him this as well) my current one is the most aggressive and the above event is the reason. I’ve never had one pick on corals or chase EVERY fish in the tank. It’s always just been one fish, in a very particular area that ticks the cherub off. I have my other clown in a hammer not even 3” away from the duncan and the cherub doesn’t care about that clown and it doesn’t care about the duncan clown if it’s away from the duncan.
So, by all means, I suggest trying a cherub. A 60 cube should be way more than enough territory for one to establish its little area and to be happy and a good tank mate. You’ll find that they are actually very curious and that they actually like to seek out activities to to to have fun! I have a small pile of rubble in the back of the tank just to build weird arches and stuff so I can watch the cherub gleefully swim through all the arches and holes and things. He has found the tiniest gaps in the rock work to wiggle through and I swear he looks proud when he finds a new hole. They’re really awesome fish and ,as you experienced, they have very pronounced personalities if you take the time to get to know them. I wish you the best of luck with your cherub!