These fish have become very popular in aquariums and will reproduce in aquariums. You can keep them on their own or in a group of 3-5 or more and this will avoid individuals getting picked on. When a couple pair off and breed then they can become territorial. They will also be protective of their offspring which the male carries in his mouth when they first hatch. These Cardinalfish are only found in the Western Pacific around the Banggai Islands, Indonesia and also found in several small islands off nearby eastern Taliabu Island and Luwuk.
Tank Recommendations for Banggai Cardinalfish:
In the wild they live where there are silty sand bottoms with seagrass (Enhalus acoroides). They also spend time between the spines of Diadema setosum, long-spined sea urchins. They are often observed in the wild in numbers of up to 60 above these sea urchins. The younger ones stay closer to the urchins, where they retreat among the spines when threatened.
In the aquarium they like plenty of live rock with caves they can go into as well as areas where they can swim free. In the wild they aren’t usually found on coral reefs, but they are compatible with live corals. They are mainly nocturnal, and so will appreciate low lighting conditions.
Suitable Tank Buddies:
Although not usually found on reefs, it does mix well with smaller reef dwelling fish and doesn’t have any problems with snails, crabs and shrimps. This isn’t an aggressive fish and so is compatible with most fish that aren’t predatory and big enough to fit it in their mouths.
Usually Compatible:
Other cardinalfish, Dwarf Angelfish, Batfish, Boxfish, Clownfish, Dartfish, Filefish, Tangs/surgeon fish, some wrasses and live rock and live corals don’t cause any problems with them. So this does allow for a very colouful and diverse tank set up.
Sometime Compatible:
Large Angelfish, Damsels or Hogfish as these fish may be territorial when competing for the same foods.
Rarely Compatible:
As Cardinalfish are small predatory fish don’t mix well, so Eels, Lionfish, Groupers or Sharks are all likely to make a meal out of them. It’s also not recommended to keep them with Triggerfish or Seahorses.
Feeding Your Banggai Cardinalfish:
These Cardinalfish are carnivorous and so you can feed them live and frozen foods. Small crustaceans like mysis and brine shrimp, adult artemias, lobster eggs, shredded fish. Usually these fish won’t eat dried foods and they may be fussy about some of the frozen foods that you offer them.
