Banggai Cardinalfish – Aquacultured – Thailand

Pterapogon kauderni

Aquacultured Banggai Cardinalfish are among the most popular due to their hardiness, unique shape, and striking coloration. Generally, more robust and well-adapted to aquarium life than their wild-caught counterparts, they feature a silvery-white body with bold black vertical bands and delicate white spots between them. Their elongated fins are outlined in black and speckled with white, making them truly eye-catching. Like many schooling fish, Banggai Cardinalfish establish a clear hierarchy in small groups. However, unlike some species, this peaceful member of the Apogonidae family maintains its position without aggression. As adults, they may form pairs within their group. Banggai Cardinalfish are mouthbrooders, with the male caring for the eggs and holding the newly hatched fry in his mouth for the first few weeks, while the female guards him from other fish. The fry is large enough to eat newly hatched brine shrimp and rotifers. These fish thrive in aquariums with plenty of rockwork to create hiding places such as cracks, crevices, and caves. Peaceful and reef-safe, they make an excellent addition to any tranquil aquarium. Being nocturnal and carnivorous, Banggai Cardinalfish require a varied diet of enriched meaty foods, such as mysis shrimp, squid, fish, clams, or specialized carnivore preparations, fed at least twice daily to stay healthy. They can grow up to 3 inches and require a minimum tank size of 30 gallons. Native to the Indo-West Pacific Ocean and the Banggai Islands, they inhabit shallow coastal areas and seagrass beds at depths of up to 50 feet.