Cherub or flameback?

[brett559]

Help me pick a little angel - it's down to the pygmy/cherub or flameback. ANy experience with these? I realize they're 50/50 with corals. Is there any difference in temperament/activity, etc. between these two? I've never seen one, but I presume they behave like other dwarf angels - active and always out and about?

 

[Jrambo88]

I have both, my cherub is in my SPS dominated tank and never ate anything he wasn't supposed to. I have a flameback in my fish only and they are like basically the same fish. I think the flameback is more striking in its colors and the cherub is more plain.

 

[o2manyfish]

I have kept both over the years. I like small fish and the cherub is usually smaller and stays smaller.

I have a pair of African Flamebacks currently and they are definitely the more brilliant looking fish.

Neither fish is a mistake in my opinion. The personality on both is good. And the chance of them being troublesome to your corals is pretty much the same, either they may or may not be a problem

In all my years of keeping pygmys (30) I have only had issues with them picking on clams. But that was hit or miss. The pair I have now for the past several years have every kind of coral to pick from and they don't do any damage to anything. And my clams are safe too,.

And my flamebacks have been caught spawning twice in the past year.

Dave B

 

[scooter31707]

I agree that the Flamebacks are more appealing and a little more territorial and aggressive than the cherub IMO.

 

[MasterP]

I've had a flameback for a little over a year in my 300 reef. Loved the little guy but once he got a taste for coral there was no stopping him. I watched as he picked at literally any type of coral he had a taste for. This also included clams. Even though it's a large tank, he became very territorial towards any newly added fish. IMO he became quite the troublesome fish and I was lucky enough to be able to catch him. Since then, my corals look a lot happier since his departure! But you may have better luck then me!