Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
General Description: The Black Striped Cardinal has a wide distribution across the Indo-West Pacific Region, from the Red Sea to southern Japan. Not as frequently encountered in the aquarium trade as some of the other species in Apogon, the Black striped cardinal has a white-yellow body with several horizontal dark stripes. The Black striped cardinal is not as social as some of the other Apogon species either, so we suggest only keeping one per aquarium. It’s compatability with other Apogon cardinalfishes is variable and will likely come down to the size of the aquarium. An adult Black striped cardinal can reach a size of approximately 4″.
Diet Requirements: In the wild cardinalfish are primarily carnivorous, feeding on small organisms suspended in the water column. A diet largely consisting of high quality, vitamin enriched frozen preparations is absolutely necessary to maintain optimal health, coloration, and immune function. Such foods can include, but are not limited to, brine shrimp, calanus, cyclopeeze and rotifers. We highly encourage soaking frozen foods in vitamin and fatty acid supplements. Multiple, small feedings per day rather than one large feeding will also create more of a natural environment for the cardinalfish as it would feed in the wild. Cardinalfish may accept high quality flake and micro-pellet foods.
Care Requirements: A minimum 30 gallon aquarium is ideal to house a Black striped cardinal. Cardinals enjoy a variety of rock work and crevices to swim through and take refuge. Do not house a Black stripe cardinal with overly aggressive and pugnacious tank-mates, as this will result in it spending a lot of its time hiding. Cardinalfish feel most at home in reef aquariums and they will not harm any invertebrate or coral. Recommended water conditions, 72-78° F, KH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.020-1.025.
Purchase Size:Â Small: 1″ to 1-1/2″; Medium: 1-1/2″ to 2″; Large: 2″ to 3″
Note: Your item may not look identical to the image provided due to variation within species. Purchase sizes are approximate.
