Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish

Cougra · 09-13-2006, 09:42 PM

This weeks Fish Focus is on the Banggai Cardinalfish - Pterapogon kauderni . This is a member of the family Apogonidae. Many of the Banggai Cardinalfish for sale have been captive bred. They are one of the very few types of marine fish that show a lot of parental care.

Origin/Habitat
Indian Ocean: Found only around the Banggai Islands.

Size
3 inches

Recommended Minimum Tank Size
24" x 12" x 18"

Sexing/Breeding
Adult males are slightly larger and boxier looking then females. Their dorsal fin is slightly longer. They are one of the easier marine fish to breed in captivity. They are mouth brooders with the male tending to the eggs. He will hold the fry in his mouth for about 40 days before releasing the fry to fend for themselves.

Notes
Due to the high demand of these fish in captivity, they are quickly becoming rare in their native habitat. Every effort should be made to attempt to purchase captive bred specimens and encourage local fish retailers to avoid purchasing wild caught specimens.
In the wild young fry are commonly found hiding in among the spines of sea urchins for protection from predation.

Have you had any experience with the Banggai Cardinalfish?
Do you have any photo's of your Banggai Cardinalfish that you would like to share?
Would you like to have one or do you find them boring?

Please share your experiences of the Banggai Cardinalfish!

Scouter Steve · 09-13-2006, 10:07 PM

i have considered these before. Tell me more about them. Do they need to be in 3's or 5's, I assume they are reef safe. Would they bother/be bothered by my Foxface or gudgeon gobies? I see the cleaner shrimp in one of those pics so I assume they are invert safe.

powdertang05 · 09-13-2006, 11:53 PM

ya i have had lots of these they are extremly friendly to all fish except its on kind when its a male with male lost some that way. other then that when they are small ive had about 25 in aq tank at a time with no problems when they are small no adults. they love mysis shrimp or even cyclops great fish love mine have had them forever.

BoomerD · 09-13-2006, 11:58 PM

There is a couple in my local area who has had great luck breeding the bangaii's. I got 4 of their babies a couple of years ago, (less than 1/2" long) and put them in my 90 gallon reef. They immediately swarmed into the tentacles of my LTA. OH NO! I thought...till I did some research and found out that it's a normal thing in the wild...they hide in there for protection, and rarely get eaten by the anemones. For some reason, one by one, they'd disappear...I finally caught my sally lightfoot stalking one and watched it kill & eat one...POOF! that sucker went into my sump until I could take it to the LFS...the last remaining one lived for a couple more months, (still hiding in the LTA, till one day, when I was cleaning the tank, I startled the LTA, and it withdrew into the sandbed, taking the cardinal with it...never to be seen again.

bullet_buddy · 09-14-2006, 03:20 AM

I have one .It hangs out in a cave till dark then it comes out.

boozeman · 09-14-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomerD

There is a couple in my local area who has had great luck breeding the bangaii's. I got 4 of their babies a couple of years ago, (less than 1/2" long) and put them in my 90 gallon reef. They immediately swarmed into the tentacles of my LTA. OH NO! I thought...till I did some research and found out that it's a normal thing in the wild...they hide in there for protection, and rarely get eaten by the anemones. For some reason, one by one, they'd disappear...I finally caught my sally lightfoot stalking one and watched it kill & eat one...POOF! that sucker went into my sump until I could take it to the LFS...the last remaining one lived for a couple more months, (still hiding in the LTA, till one day, when I was cleaning the tank, I startled the LTA, and it withdrew into the sandbed, taking the cardinal with it...never to be seen again.

oh noooo...that story was sooooo sad!

Cougra · 09-14-2006, 10:37 AM

From what I understand they do better in a small group of three or more. However I haven't kept any as of yet so I'm not certain how accurate that information is. I know that they are peaceful fish and would really like to try to keep them someday.

boozeman · 09-14-2006, 11:15 AM

at the baltimore aquarium they have a large reef tank with dozens of them from adults to juveniles.

Snelly40 · 09-14-2006, 11:42 AM

my father has a group of 5, many people do also call them anemone fish similar to the clown because they also are unaffected by the anemones and will hide in them. They are very very peacefull fish and will not bother any gobies or inverts. Keep them in groups so they eat and do not get too stressed. overall a great fish

LisaB · 09-14-2006, 11:50 AM

Some people don't like these fish because they don't swim around a lot; they just hover in the current. I like that because it makes them very easy to observe and appreciate their detailed coloring. They are agressive feeders, so be sure to target feed any shyer fish.

If one stops eating you can bet it's a male brooding eggs.

Charlie97L · 09-14-2006, 03:29 PM

i have one, he's "the creepy fish" according to my roommates... they are nocturnal, and just kind of drift around during the day...

until you feed the tank. then they strike. mine regularly challenges my tang for mysis, and wins.

nothing violent.

they have huge mouths.

i've *heard/read* that they can predate smaller fish. they have huge mouths.... but it would have to be a huge cardinal and a juvie goby, probably. i have only heard it mentioned a few times.

really cool fish. mine has been single his whole life, and he's fine. small groups aren't necessary. very neat.

i like these fish focus threads.

Snelly40 · 09-14-2006, 03:33 PM

i agree, these fish focus threads are a great way to talk about fish we have or are tinking about getting and getting some great input on them

billyr98 · 09-14-2006, 04:25 PM

My dad has had three in his reef since he started his in 1993... They are not a real colorful fish, so i stayed away from them.. But I do like a schooling fish

Gina · 09-14-2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyr98

... They are not a real colorful fish, so i stayed away from them..

Kinda the reason why I haven't really given them any thought.
I'll admit, I like colorful fish.
Of course that doesn't explain my Dusky Jawfish! LOL

Witfull · 09-14-2006, 05:43 PM

one nice thing about them is they are out in the open, i call them a christmas tree ornament, they just hang there~

09-13-2006, 09:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish This weeks Fish Focus is on the Banggai Cardinalfish - Pterapogon kauderni . This is a member of the family Apogonidae. Many of the Banggai Cardinalfish for sale have been captive bred. They are one of the very few types of marine fish that show a lot of parental care. Origin/Habitat Indian Ocean: Found only around the Banggai Islands. Size 3 inches Recommended Minimum Tank Size 24" x 12" x 18" Sexing/Breeding Adult males are slightly larger and boxier looking then females. Their dorsal fin is slightly longer. They are one of the easier marine fish to breed in captivity. They are mouth brooders with the male tending to the eggs. He will hold the fry in his mouth for about 40 days before releasing the fry to fend for themselves. Notes Due to the high demand of these fish in captivity, they are quickly becoming rare in their native habitat. Every effort should be made to attempt to purchase captive bred specimens and encourage local fish retailers to avoid purchasing wild caught specimens. In the wild young fry are commonly found hiding in among the spines of sea urchins for protection from predation. Have you had any experience with the Banggai Cardinalfish? Do you have any photo's of your Banggai Cardinalfish that you would like to share? Would you like to have one or do you find them boring? Please share your experiences of the Banggai Cardinalfish! __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

09-13-2006, 10:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Scouter Steve Neon dottyback Join Date: May 2006 Location: Somers Wisconsin (Kenosha County) Posts: 620 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish i have considered these before. Tell me more about them. Do they need to be in 3's or 5's, I assume they are reef safe. Would they bother/be bothered by my Foxface or gudgeon gobies? I see the cleaner shrimp in one of those pics so I assume they are invert safe.

09-13-2006, 11:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
powdertang05 Midas Blenny Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 97 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish ya i have had lots of these they are extremly friendly to all fish except its on kind when its a male with male lost some that way. other then that when they are small ive had about 25 in aq tank at a time with no problems when they are small no adults. they love mysis shrimp or even cyclops great fish love mine have had them forever. __________________ Dang Lazy Cleaner Shrimp

09-13-2006, 11:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,235 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish There is a couple in my local area who has had great luck breeding the bangaii's. I got 4 of their babies a couple of years ago, (less than 1/2" long) and put them in my 90 gallon reef. They immediately swarmed into the tentacles of my LTA. OH NO! I thought...till I did some research and found out that it's a normal thing in the wild...they hide in there for protection, and rarely get eaten by the anemones. For some reason, one by one, they'd disappear...I finally caught my sally lightfoot stalking one and watched it kill & eat one...POOF! that sucker went into my sump until I could take it to the LFS...the last remaining one lived for a couple more months, (still hiding in the LTA, till one day, when I was cleaning the tank, I startled the LTA, and it withdrew into the sandbed, taking the cardinal with it...never to be seen again. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

09-14-2006, 03:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
bullet_buddy Limpet Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 128 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish I have one .It hangs out in a cave till dark then it comes out.

09-14-2006, 10:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish From what I understand they do better in a small group of three or more. However I haven't kept any as of yet so I'm not certain how accurate that information is. I know that they are peaceful fish and would really like to try to keep them someday. __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

09-14-2006, 11:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
Snelly40 Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,280 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish my father has a group of 5, many people do also call them anemone fish similar to the clown because they also are unaffected by the anemones and will hide in them. They are very very peacefull fish and will not bother any gobies or inverts. Keep them in groups so they eat and do not get too stressed. overall a great fish __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society* In Hoc Signo Vinces

09-14-2006, 11:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
LisaB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 60 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish Some people don't like these fish because they don't swim around a lot; they just hover in the current. I like that because it makes them very easy to observe and appreciate their detailed coloring. They are agressive feeders, so be sure to target feed any shyer fish. If one stops eating you can bet it's a male brooding eggs. __________________ LisaB "Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable. Let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all." Douglas Adams, GRHS

09-14-2006, 03:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
Charlie97L Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,288 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish i have one, he's "the creepy fish" according to my roommates... they are nocturnal, and just kind of drift around during the day... until you feed the tank. then they strike. mine regularly challenges my tang for mysis, and wins. nothing violent. they have huge mouths. i've heard/read that they can predate smaller fish. they have huge mouths.... but it would have to be a huge cardinal and a juvie goby, probably. i have only heard it mentioned a few times. really cool fish. mine has been single his whole life, and he's fine. small groups aren't necessary. very neat. i like these fish focus threads. __________________ 40 Breeder, 20H Frag Aquactinics T5s, CPR Fuge, Deltec AP600, AC Jr, WavySea

09-14-2006, 03:33 PM	#12 (permalink)
Snelly40 Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,280 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish i agree, these fish focus threads are a great way to talk about fish we have or are tinking about getting and getting some great input on them __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society* In Hoc Signo Vinces

09-14-2006, 04:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,399 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Fish Focus - Banggai Cardinalfish My dad has had three in his reef since he started his in 1993... They are not a real colorful fish, so i stayed away from them.. But I do like a schooling fish __________________ Billyr98 -=NJRC Treasurer=- My 450g Reef Tank ~~~ Its HERE!!!

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