Not furry, but we like them anyway.

Cherub Angelfish

Centropyge argi

Also called Cherubfish, Pygmy angelfish, Atlantic pygmy angelfish

SpeciesShort profile

From Western Atlantic: Bermuda and from North Carolina and Florida through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean to French Guiana1 2

At a glance the quick version

Length7.5 to 8 cm1 2 3

Sizetiny

Tiny size suits smaller marine tanks

Bright blue and orange colours

Has been bred in captivity

2 3 1

Looks how to spot one

Very small, deep-bodied dwarf angelfish

One of the smallest angelfish. The oval body is deep sapphire blue, while the face and chest are orange-yellow with a thin blue ring around the eye. The fins are blue with paler blue edges, and there is a sturdy spine at the corner of the gill cover.2 3

Colourssapphire blueorange-yellow2 3

Personality what they are like

Semi-aggressive for its size and best kept one per tank, though a mated pair can live together. It ducks into holes when startled.3 1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

An active little grazer that stays close to rubble and rock.1 3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Provide live rock and plenty of hiding places. It may nip at large-polyped stony corals and clam mantles.3

Home where they are happiest

A tank of at least 50 to 55 US gallons (about 190 to 210 L) with live rock. Saltwater at about 22 to 26 °C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, dKH 8 to 12, specific gravity 1.020 to 1.025. In the wild it lives over coral rubble, mostly at about 5 to 30 m.3 1

Food basics what goes in the bowl

An omnivore. Offer a varied menu of spirulina and marine algae, a good angelfish food, and meaty items such as frozen mysis shrimp. Feed small portions about three times a day. Wild fish eat algae and small bottom-living invertebrates.3 1 2

Company who they like around

Lives in small groups with one male, a few females and juveniles. A single fish or a mated pair suits most home tanks.2 1 3

The story where it all began

Loren P. Woods and Robert H. Kanazawa described the species in 1951. The name argi comes from Argus Bank near Bermuda, where the type specimens were found.2 1

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
Its scientific name comes from Argus Bank, an undersea bank near Bermuda.2
2
At about 8 cm, it is one of the smallest angelfish in the world.2
3
It can be found as deep as 80 m, although most live between about 5 and 30 m.1
4
It has been bred successfully in aquariums.3

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009)1

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Cherub Angelfish. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
Temperature checkevery day
Salinity checkevery week
Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
Water testevery week
Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
Glass cleanevery week

Start a free diary

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

FishBase: Centropyge argi, Cherubfish fishbase.seused for length, distribution, depth, habitat, diet, pairing, IUCN status, describer
Wikipedia: Centropyge argi en.wikipedia.orgused for colour description, size, distribution, social groups, history, etymology
LiveAquaria: Pygmy (Cherub) Angelfish liveaquaria.comused for aquarium care, tank size, water parameters, temperament, diet, captive breeding

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.