Cherub Angel in a Reef?

My wife really would like a bright blue fish for our 40g breeder and we know we don't want any Damsels but what about a Cherub Angel? We have a mixed reef tank with a few LPS (frogspawn, torch, acans etc.), some mushrooms but our most prized corals are our high-end zoas and palys so we wouldn't want to get anything that would be a potential threat to them especially. He also would have to get along with wrasse's as we currently have a Radiant and will be adding a Clown Fairy shortly. Any info/opinions (especially firsthand) would be appreciated!!!

 

I would say no. Not only do they occasionally feast on corals but they can become quite aggresive especially in a small tank. Also be prepared to remove most of your LR if you indeed have to remove this fish. Not a good idea.IMO

 

I have one in my nano and I wouldn't recommend it. He's an awesome fish and mine has tons of personality, but he's a pain. There are certain corals I can't keep because he will nip at them and he is really aggressive to new tank additions.

He's still in my tank because my wife loves him and I'm too lazy to tear down my rock work.

 

I ahve one of these little guys in my 180. Ive had in about a year and a half and NEVER seen him nip at anything other than chase my anthia around for a month. I have a mixed reef with leathers, Frogspawns, a maxima and lots of SPS. Very cute little fish, but not very bright blue. gets along well with all my fish now. I never see him out in the open either. he stick very close to the rockwork.

Centropyge flavicauda, White Tail Pygmy angel, dwarf angelfish, pygmy angels

 

You could get a blue devil damsel. They are aggressive but not as bad as many damsels in my experience. Or one of the yellow tail damsels. (aggressive as well, but not so bad that it's a problem ime)

 

Would a Coral Beauty be better or about the same (I know they aren't bright blue but they are beautiful)?

 

Not as aggresive but still may nip corals and clams.

 

There is still a chance that it will/ or has nipped corals.Also keeping one in a 180 is a far cry from the O.P.'s 40 gallon.Not fun trying to catch one of these in a stocked tank.

 

Ill give you that... I would not even want to attempt it in mine. Its quite funny to watch his interaction with my very very FAT 6 line wrasse. they tend to follow each other around scouring the rocks looking for pods. as if they pods hide when the first swims by and then come out and are eaten my the 2nd. I dont recall ever seeing my angel on teh top sides of the rocks. he is always in the cracks and shadows.

 

lol I talked to you on nanoreef as well.

I have great experience with these little guys, had one for quite a while now with no trouble, he does graze on algae on the rocks, but leaves coral alone IME
If you keep him well fed, and a diverse diet, then you probably have about a 50/50 shot at making it work, some are well behaved, some are little B**tards that eat everything they see. my case, I got a nice one

BTW my tank is 35g so even if he gets bored he still doesnt act out