Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish

cvsailer · 01/23/2014, 08:50 AM

Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish

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I have a 92 gallon FOWLR with the following fish:

2 clowns
1 blue/green chromis
1 convict blenny
1 Kaudern cardinal
1 foxface rabbit
1 Vrolik wrasse
1 Royal gamma basslet
1 blue spotted puffer

Can I safely add the Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish? I'm concerned about it's potential aggressive behavior, although I'm desperately trying to add some rich blue color to the tank (tank too small for Tangs). Any advice would be great. I apologize if you saw this post in the Fish Only/Aggressive tanks forum. I'm simply trying to get as many opinions as I can. Thx!

cvsailer · 01/23/2014, 10:33 AM

Anyone have experience with this particular Angelfish. Thx!

billdogg · 01/23/2014, 11:01 AM

I have had several over the years. They may be small, but they will quickly become the dominate fish in many systems. You can probably get away with adding one, but because they are very closely related to the clowns and chromis, I would watch out for troubles. As long as you provide plenty of nooks and crannies for everybody, you should be ok. Check out the African Flameback also. Very pretty fish

Mark9 · 01/23/2014, 11:01 AM

You're better off posting in this thread

PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

cvsailer · 01/23/2014, 11:37 AM

Thank you both for your helpful posts.

cvsailer · 01/23/2014, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

I have had several over the years. They may be small, but they will quickly become the dominate fish in many systems. You can probably get away with adding one, but because they are very closely related to the clowns and chromis, I would watch out for troubles. As long as you provide plenty of nooks and crannies for everybody, you should be ok. Check out the African Flameback also. Very pretty fish

The African Flameback is also a beauty. Any differences compared to the pygmy in terms of aggression? Thanks.

Browncoat · 01/23/2014, 11:48 AM

Since you're adding it as one of the last fish in the tank you should be totally fine here. I've kept a couple over the years and while they wanted to be the king of the castle they never really did and damage to other fishes. African flameback is very similar in disposition and can be feisty but also should be fine to add instead.

Joe0813 · 01/23/2014, 11:51 AM

Your tank is not to small for a small tang IMO... i think a yellow eye kole tang would be a nice pick. they are a lighter blue/grey with horizontal lines on them.... i had one in my 75 and it was fine

Reeferz412 · 01/23/2014, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvsailer

The African Flameback is also a beauty. Any differences compared to the pygmy in terms of aggression? Thanks.

My flameback is extremely aggressive. You will recieve different account on their temperament, but you could by chance get one mean flameback like mine. Not a coral picker just one mean son of a gun.

asudavew · 01/23/2014, 12:20 PM

I have one in my 50 gallon breeder along with two clowns, a sailfish blenny, a golden headed goby, and various soft corals.

Its not very aggressive, but it did follow the goby very closely after I added it.
It will pick at stuff. It likes to nip on the polyps of my devils hand but does no harm, other than it closes back up...

Neat little fish, but there are better colored fish out there.

How bout a bicolor angel?

cvsailer · 01/23/2014, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asudavew

I have one in my 50 gallon breeder along with two clowns, a sailfish blenny, a golden headed goby, and various soft corals.

Its not very aggressive, but it did follow the goby very closely after I added it.
It will pick at stuff. It likes to nip on the polyps of my devils hand but does no harm, other than it closes back up...

Neat little fish, but there are better colored fish out there.

How bout a bicolor angel?

The bicolor angel is a beauty! I assume it's habits as it relates to aggression are similar to the pygmy Angel or African Flame Angel? Thanks.

asudavew · 01/30/2014, 09:46 AM

My bicolor isnt as bad as the pygmy at picking at stuff. But it is more aggressive toward new fish.

I've found it best to add more than one fish at a time where the bicolor is concerned.

dkeller_nc · 01/30/2014, 01:43 PM

One thing to consider about a bicolor is that they're one of the larger dwarf angelfishes (up to 6"). My experience with them is that they grow fairly slowly compared to tangs, anthias, and others. But it might get a bit large for your tank after a while. There are also a lot of reports on the web that they can be difficult to acclimate and start feeding on typical aquarium fare.

That was not my experience with the 3 individuals I've had of this species over the last 25 years or so, but I may well have simply lucked out with well-collected fish that liked what I was offering (typically frozen brine, Mysis and clams/mussels, with occasional feedings of live blackworms).

hunter4268 · 01/30/2014, 03:13 PM

I have 2 in my 125 and have not had any issues with agression with new or existing fish and coral. I have had them for about 2 years.

01/23/2014, 08:50 AM	#1
cvsailer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 216	Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have a 92 gallon FOWLR with the following fish: 2 clowns 1 blue/green chromis 1 convict blenny 1 Kaudern cardinal 1 foxface rabbit 1 Vrolik wrasse 1 Royal gamma basslet 1 blue spotted puffer Can I safely add the Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish? I'm concerned about it's potential aggressive behavior, although I'm desperately trying to add some rich blue color to the tank (tank too small for Tangs). Any advice would be great. I apologize if you saw this post in the Fish Only/Aggressive tanks forum. I'm simply trying to get as many opinions as I can. Thx!

01/23/2014, 11:01 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I have had several over the years. They may be small, but they will quickly become the dominate fish in many systems. You can probably get away with adding one, but because they are very closely related to the clowns and chromis, I would watch out for troubles. As long as you provide plenty of nooks and crannies for everybody, you should be ok. Check out the African Flameback also. Very pretty fish __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

01/23/2014, 11:51 AM	#8
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	Your tank is not to small for a small tang IMO... i think a yellow eye kole tang would be a nice pick. they are a lighter blue/grey with horizontal lines on them.... i had one in my 75 and it was fine __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

01/23/2014, 12:20 PM	#10
asudavew Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Angelo, Texas Posts: 1,010	I have one in my 50 gallon breeder along with two clowns, a sailfish blenny, a golden headed goby, and various soft corals. Its not very aggressive, but it did follow the goby very closely after I added it. It will pick at stuff. It likes to nip on the polyps of my devils hand but does no harm, other than it closes back up... Neat little fish, but there are better colored fish out there. How bout a bicolor angel? __________________ Be nice. Current Tank Info: 180, 125, 75

01/30/2014, 09:46 AM	#12
asudavew Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: San Angelo, Texas Posts: 1,010	My bicolor isnt as bad as the pygmy at picking at stuff. But it is more aggressive toward new fish. I've found it best to add more than one fish at a time where the bicolor is concerned. __________________ Be nice. Current Tank Info: 180, 125, 75

01/23/2014, 10:33 AM	#2
cvsailer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 216	Anyone have experience with this particular Angelfish. Thx!

01/23/2014, 11:01 AM	#4
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	You're better off posting in this thread PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

01/23/2014, 11:37 AM	#5
cvsailer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 216	Thank you both for your helpful posts.

01/23/2014, 11:48 AM	#7
Browncoat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 311	Since you're adding it as one of the last fish in the tank you should be totally fine here. I've kept a couple over the years and while they wanted to be the king of the castle they never really did and damage to other fishes. African flameback is very similar in disposition and can be feisty but also should be fine to add instead.

01/30/2014, 01:43 PM	#13
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	One thing to consider about a bicolor is that they're one of the larger dwarf angelfishes (up to 6"). My experience with them is that they grow fairly slowly compared to tangs, anthias, and others. But it might get a bit large for your tank after a while. There are also a lot of reports on the web that they can be difficult to acclimate and start feeding on typical aquarium fare. That was not my experience with the 3 individuals I've had of this species over the last 25 years or so, but I may well have simply lucked out with well-collected fish that liked what I was offering (typically frozen brine, Mysis and clams/mussels, with occasional feedings of live blackworms).

01/30/2014, 03:13 PM	#14
hunter4268 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 124	I have 2 in my 125 and have not had any issues with agression with new or existing fish and coral. I have had them for about 2 years.