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Reef Fish Guide designation and why
Take it home
Although not all Cardinalfishes will be found at the local fish store, this family is known for its hardiness and brilliancy as adisplay fish. Because they are comfortable being kept in groups they are easy to breed and captive bred fish make the most sustainable choice for the home aquarium.
Distribution
Indo Pacific and Western Pacific, Red Sea south to Mozambique and east to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu and Bonin islands, south to New Caledonia; Tropical eastern Atlantic
Maximum Size
Ranges from 2.4 - 4.1 inches (6 - 10.5 cm)
Care Requirements
Cardinalfishes do best in large tanks but may be kept in a minimum tank size of 30 gallons. When looking to buy a Cardinalfish, make sure you carefully evaluate the particular species of interest because each breed displays differing personalities. Some are bold (like A. cyanosoma) and spend much of their time out in the open. They usually stay close to cover, unlike other Cardinalfish species that spend a lot of time hiding in holes and crevices. Cardinalfishes are an excellent fish to keep in reef tanks. It is important to provide many nooks and crannies for them to hide in. Some species will defend their home and in a well-lit tank they tend to take cover more often.
Food: Cardinalfishes from this family eat meaty foods including marine fish and crustacean flesh, mysid shrimp and frozen preparations. Feed them daily and watch their color because some species will fade if they are not fed a varied diet that includes vitamin-enriched and color-enhancing foods.
Compatibility: Most Cardinalfishes do best with docile tank mates. Being that they are so small, they may make a great snack for larger, more aggressive fish. They are non-predatory and typically non-aggressive, but some larger and feistier Cardinalfish species will pick on smaller ones. Besides A. maculates, these fish like being kept in aggregations of five or more individuals. If you keep many Cardinalfishes in your tank, add them at the same time. These fish are not a threat to other tank organisms but some have been known to eat delicate ornamental shrimp.
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