Banggai Cardinalfish

Environment

Minimum volume 150 liters for a small group (4-6 individuals). Tropical marine water: 24-28°C, pH 8.0-8.4, density 1.023-1.025, salinity 32-35 ppt. Prefers calm areas with low current. Provide hiding places (rocks, corals) and keep with anemones or long-spined sea urchins (Diadema setosum) with which it naturally associates. Moderate lighting. Efficient filtration but low current.

Feeding

Strict carnivore. Feed with small live or frozen prey: adult brine shrimp, mysis, chopped krill, small pieces of fish or shrimp flesh. Avoid dry flakes which it accepts poorly. Distribute 1 to 2 times daily in small quantities. Young specimens may require live food at the beginning of acclimation.

Health & common diseases

The Banggai Cardinalfish is susceptible to parasitic diseases such as ichthyophthirius (white spot) and oodinium (velvet), as well as secondary bacterial infections due to stress. Poor acclimation or degraded water quality can cause immune depression favoring fungal infections and fin rot. Symptoms to watch for include white spots on the body, eye cloudiness, breathing difficulties, and lethargy. Maintain stable water (temperature, salinity, low nitrates), avoid overcrowding, and systematically quarantine new arrivals to prevent contamination.

Tips & tankmates

Peaceful gregarious species, ideal for peaceful reef tanks. Compatible with small calm fish (peaceful damsels, gobies), invertebrates, and corals. Avoid aggressive or overly active fish. Males incubate eggs in their mouth (15-20 days), reproduction possible in aquarium. WARNING: ENDANGERED species (IUCN) in the wild due to overfishing for the aquarium trade and its very restricted range. Absolutely prefer captive-bred individuals to avoid increasing pressure on wild populations. Verify traceability at purchase.

Sources

• FishBase - Pterapogon kauderni
• IUCN Red List - Pterapogon kauderni
• Seriously Fish - Banggai Cardinalfish