Cardinal Fish

Cardinal fish are relatively small yet quite stunning tropical fish ideal for the marine aquarium. Distinguished from other small and fancy fish by their large eyes, Cardinal fish tend to be nocturnal. A semi-schooling fish, it is best not to have more than one male in a tank as schools are best formed when all the fish are female. Males will become aggressive with one another and the dominant male will harass the other males to death. Cardinal fish are quite hardy and easy to care for, making them popular and ideal for novice aquarists

Cardinal fish are quite easy to care for. They have no special water requirements beyond those of a healthy reef tank, so water temperatures between 78-82˚F and pH around 8.3 are the norm.

Cardinal fish are omnivores and require equal amounts of vegetation and protein to survive. Brine shrimp are a favorite and an ideal way to encourage your new Cardinal fish to eat while adapting to a new tank. Algae pellets, fresh or frozen crab and shrimp meat, and shredded lettuce or spinach are excellent foods to feed your Cardinal fish.

Somewhat shy, Cardinal fish may take a while to adapt to tank life, and during this time may need a little extra care to ensure that they are not being bullied away from the food. One trick to getting them quickly acclimated is to feed them live brine shrimp. Because they are nocturnal, owners may want to consider getting special nighttime lighting. It is important that owners realize that a common Cardinal fish defense is to “play dead”. Be sure your fish is dead before you dispose of it as it may simply be frightened.