Banggai Cardinalfish

Pterapogon kauderni

Fathers carry the eggs in their mouths and release fully-formed miniature babies. A stately, slow-moving beauty.

A peaceful saltwater fish that grows to 8 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 24–28 °C, pH 8.0–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 60 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

pH

8.0–8.4

Adult size

8 cm (3.1 in)

Aquarium

60 L or bigger (16 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Carnivore

Wild home

Banggai Islands, Indonesia

Good to know

• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Firefish Goby, Flame Hawkfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Green Chromis, Harlequin Shrimp, Mandarin Dragonet, Neon Goby, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Yellow Watchman Goby.

Eaten by: Clown Triggerfish, Lantern Anglerfish, Lionfish, Snowflake Moray.

Attacked by: Clown Triggerfish.

Eats the newborn fry of: Green Chromis, Harlequin Shrimp, Neon Goby, Ocellaris Clownfish, Royal Gramma, Yellowtail Damselfish.

Its fry are eaten by: Emperor Angelfish, Flame Hawkfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Green Chromis, Ocellaris Clownfish, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Porcupine Puffer, Psychedelic Frogfish, Royal Gramma, Six-Line Wrasse, Yellow Watchman Goby, Yellowtail Damselfish.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Classic uncommon

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.7 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.