CARDINAL FISH

THIS THREAD CONTAINS SPECIES INFORMATION ABOUT CARDNINAL FISH..
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Scientific Name: Pterapogon kauderni
Family: Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes)
Size: 3 inches
Temperature: 74 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit
Origin: Banggai Islands of Indonesia – facing extinction in the wild due to overfishing for the aquarium industry

The Banggai cardinal is a truly wonderful fish for the marine aquarium; so much so that it has been overfished to the point of possible extinction in the wild. Fortunately, it is also one of the easiest marine fish to get to spawn, and raising the babies is a fairly easy task. The babies are brooded in the mouth of the male for a month or so, and when released they are perfect little miniatures of the parents, able to take enriched live brine shrimp from the moment they are released. In the wild the babies are released into, and hide among the spines of the long-spined sea urchin. Giving them the same cover in the aquarium greatly increases their chance of survival.

The Banggai cardinal is a very peaceful fish, and needs to be kept with other nonaggressive fish. Doing just fine in a reef tank, this fish will not bother any invertebrates or corals. The fish can be kept in groups if the tank is large enough. Normally a pair will form and break off from the group. However, the pair may also make life miserable for their brethren, especially once they spawn and the male is carrying eggs. Feeding the Banggai is easy, as it will take any kind of meaty food as it drops through the water column. Make sure the fish gets enough to eat. Males carrying babies do not eat for the entire incubation period, and it is a good idea to isolate brooding males.

Scientific Name: Sphaeramia nematoptera
Family: Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes)
Size: 3 inches
Temperature: 74 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit
Origin: Western Pacific Ocean

Very similar to its cousin the Banggai cardinal, the pajama cardinal (also called “PJ”) is found in a much greater range throughout the western Pacific, whereas the Banggai is limited to one group of islands. Fortunately, the pajama cardinal also is a male mouthbrooder, and breeding is very easy to induce in this fish. Raising this fish is quite easy as well.

As the large size of its eye indicates, the pajama cardinal prefers to hang out under ledges and in crevices. The more appropriate hiding places you provide it with, the more comfortable it will feel and the more time it will spend out in the open. This fish is very peaceful and does best in either a reef tank (as long as there are no small shrimp they might be tempted to devour) or with other peaceful fish. Feeding this fish is no problem whatsoever, as it will take any meaty foods such as brine shrimp, Mysis shrimp, or diced shrimp and fish. Because this cardinal is fairly nocturnal, make sure it gets some food right as the lights go out at night.

Even though the pajama cardinal is plentiful in the wild, buying captive-raised fish is much preferred. Used to aquarium conditions and prepared foods, the captive-raised fish is hardier and will not put any pressure on the wild stock.