The Spotted Cardinalfish is a rainbow of playful colors. It has a greenish-yellow face, bright orange eyes, and a silver-based body dressed with a bold black scalar margin and a posterior dotted with orange polka-dots. Though its bold coloration may stand out, Sphaeramia nematoptera has a peaceful nature that lets it blend perfectly into any community saltwater aquarium.

For the best care, the Spotted Cardinalfish should be kept in small schools in suitably sized aquariums of at least 30 gallons. Because the Spotted Cardinalfish is a slow and methodical swimmer, it should be housed with peaceful tankmates and offered a plethora of hiding places amongst rockwork or plants. Most Spotted Cardinalfish will tend to hide in sea grass or other plants. Some may also camouflage themselves against long spined sea urchins.

Like many other schooling fish, the Spotted Cardinalfish will form a strict hierarchy when kept in small groups within the aquarium. However, unlike some social fish, this member of the Apogonidae family does not use aggression to exert dominance over other cardinalfish.

The Spotted Cardinalfish requires a well balanced diet of meaty foods such as feeder shrimp, flake foods, pellet foods, marine flesh, bloodworms, and depending on its size, live feeder fish.

Quick Stats:
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, dKH 8-12
Max. Size: 3″
Color Form: Green, White
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Coral Sea, Fiji, Indo-Pacific
Family: Apogonidae

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The Longspine Cardinalfish comes from the reefs of the Indian Ocean, and has a long slender shape and is mostly transparent in color. The transparent color is offset by many markings and spots of both iridescent blue and yellow. The Large black eyes of this fish are outlined in iridescent blue like the markings on both the fins and body.

A 10-gallon or larger aquarium with a cave and peaceful tank mates is suitable for this slow and methodical swimmer. It tends to hide in sea grass or other plants, or may use long spined urchins for camouflage. If a larger aquarium is available, it will handle a small group of this species. As a group, they will establish a strict hierarchy without aggressiveness.

The Longspine Cardinalfish requires a well balanced diet of meaty foods such as feeder shrimp, flake foods, pellet foods, marine flesh, bloodworms, and depending on its size, live feeder fish.

Quick Stats:
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, sg 1.022-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, dKH 8-12
Max. Size: 2½”
Color Form: Blue, Clear, Yellow
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Apogonidae

Note: This profile is currently incomplete. Description and/or images are temporarily taken from LiveAquaria and will be replaced shortly. If you are interested in writing a new description, please contact me at info@myfishtank.net. If you have any experience with this particular fish, please leave a comment below and share with us.

The Kaudern’s Cardinal is highly sought after for its ease of care, attractive color pattern and distinctively long and elegant fins. The Kaudern’s Cardinal, also known as the Banggai Cardinalfish or Longfin Cardinalfish, is metallic silver highlighted by rich black stripes and white, celestial spots on the body and fins. This sophisticated color pattern of the Kaudern’s Cardinal makes it a visual striking and memorable addition to most saltwater aquariums.

A 30 gallon or larger aquarium with cave-like rockwork and peaceful tank mates is ideal for this slow and methodical swimmer. Due to its aggressive behavior towards conspecifics, the Kaudern’s Cardinal should not be kept in large groups. The Kaudern’s Cardinal is relatively easy to breed in the aquarium setting. Once spawning has occurred, the male carries the eggs in his mouth to protect them.

The Kaudern’s Cardinal should be fed a well balanced diet of meaty foods such as feeder shrimp, marine flesh, bloodworms, and depending on its size, live feeder fish.

Quick Stats:
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, dKH 8-12
Max. Size: 3″
Color Form: Black, White
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Apogonidae

Note: This profile is currently incomplete. Description and/or images are temporarily taken from LiveAquaria and will be replaced shortly. If you are interested in writing a new description, please contact me at info@myfishtank.net. If you have any experience with this particular fish, please leave a comment below and share with us.

The Flame Cardinal, also known as the Flamefish, is fiery red with light accents of blue and green.

A 30 gallon or larger aquarium with caves and peaceful tank mates is a good environment for this slow and methodical swimmer. It should not be kept in large groups because of its aggressive behavior towards other Cardinalfish, although it does well in mated pairs. It is a nocturnal fish and may be watched using a red light.

The Flame Cardinal requires a well-balanced and vitamin-enriched diet of meaty foods such as feeder shrimp, marine flesh, bloodworms, and depending on its size, live feeder fish.

Quick Stats:
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Aggressive
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, sg 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, dKH 8-12
Max. Size: 4″
Color Form: Red
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Caribbean, Costa Rica
Family: Apogonidae

Note: This profile is currently incomplete. Description and/or images are temporarily taken from LiveAquaria and will be replaced shortly. If you are interested in writing a new description, please contact me at info@myfishtank.net. If you have any experience with this particular fish, please leave a comment below and share with us.