Description:
The Cherub Angelfish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. It occurs off Bermuda, and from North Carolina through the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean coast of South America, as far east as French Guiana. This hardy, vibrant angelfish is a member of the Pomacanthidae family. The body of this fish is sapphire blue in color with the head and chest being orange-yellow. They have a thin blue eye ring and a small dark blue botch to the rear of the mouth. The pectoral fins are pale yellowish while the other fins are dark blue with light blue margins. A Cherub Angelfish can reach up to 3 inches in length and requires an aquarium of at least 55 gallons with lots of live rock for grazing and places to hide. It should be noted that dwarf angelfish are sensitive to copper. If you quarantine new fish - like you should - this fish should not be exposed to copper levels near or above 0.15ppm.
Diet:
Cherub Angelfish are omnivores. They spend most of their days swimming around the live rocks, grazing on algae. They will enjoy Nori and Spirulina as well. They will accept pellet or flake foods sometimes, but for good nutrition, they also need small meaty meals like Mysis shrimp, phytoplankton, copepods, and/or prepared or frozen offerings. They could nip at snails, clams, sponges, and corals. For this reason, Cherub Angelfish are considered to be reef safe with caution. Some hobbyists have had success in deterring their own Cherub Angelfish from eating corals and some have not had success. The key seems to be multiple daily feedings.
Behavior:
As stated earlier, a Cherub Angelfish can reach up to 3 inches and requires an aquarium of at least 55 gallons. This is a rewarding fish to add for those who spend a lot of time viewing their aquarium. While they may hide when you initially add them, the Cherub Angelfish will swim almost constantly for your viewing pleasure, picking at any algae it can find when it gets settled in. These fish are considered to be aggressive with their own kind. They aren’t very fast swimmers compared to other reef fish. So, their aggression is often the result of territorial disputes with other aggressive fish, especially other angelfish. A larger tank with a good amount of rockwork can deter some of these disputes. It is not recommended to keep other angelfish with a Cherub Angelfish. If you intend to keep fish, a netted lid is recommended.