Banggai Cardinalfish

The Banggai Cardinalfish is an elegant and distinctive saltwater fish known for its stunning silver body adorned with bold black stripes and white spots, accented by long, flowing fins. Native to the Banggai Islands of Indonesia, these cardinalfish are popular for their peaceful nature and unique appearance. They are slow, deliberate swimmers that hover in the water column and are completely reef-safe. Banggai Cardinals are mouthbrooders, with males carrying eggs in their mouths until hatching. Their striking looks and calm demeanor make them excellent additions to peaceful reef aquariums.

Care Requirements

Tank Setup

Banggai Cardinalfish need a peaceful tank with hiding spots:

• Minimum 30 gallons (40+ recommended for groups)
• Caves and hiding spots - they like security
• Rockwork for shelter
• Peaceful tank mates only
• Protein skimmer
• Gentle to moderate flow
• Heater to maintain 75-82°F
• Low lighting preferred (they are nocturnal by nature)

Note: They prefer dimmer lighting and may be more active when lights are subdued.

Water Quality (Marine)

• Temperature: 75-82°F (24-28°C)
• pH: 8.1-8.4
• Specific Gravity: 1.020-1.025
• Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: <20 ppm
• Phosphate: <0.03 ppm
• Calcium: 400-450 ppm
• Alkalinity: 8-12 dKH

Maintenance:

• Weekly 10-15% water changes
• Top off with RO/DI water daily
• Maintain stable parameters

Feeding

Banggai Cardinals are carnivores:

• Frozen Mysis shrimp (primary food)
• Frozen brine shrimp
• Marine pellets (small size)
• Marine flakes (high quality)
• Copepods
• Small meaty frozen foods

Feeding Schedule: 2 times daily. They are slow swimmers and need time to eat.

Note: They may be outcompeted for food by aggressive eaters. Target feeding helps ensure they get adequate nutrition.

Behavior & Compatibility

Banggai Cardinals are peaceful and slow-moving:

• Good Tank Mates:

  • Clownfish
  • Small tangs
  • Gobies
  • Blennies
  • Dartfish
  • Royal Gramma
  • Other peaceful cardinalfish
  • Cleaner shrimp

• Avoid:

  • Aggressive fish (damsels, dottybacks, triggers)
  • Fast, aggressive eaters (may outcompete them)
  • Large predatory fish
  • Fish that nip at long fins

Schooling: While not strict schoolers, they do well in small groups (3-6) and will loosely associate.

Reproduction

Banggai Cardinals are fascinating breeders:

• Mouthbrooders: Males carry eggs in their mouths for about 20-25 days
• Brood size: 10-40 eggs typically
• Care: Males don’t eat while brooding
• Spawning: Usually occurs at dusk
• Young: Released as fully formed miniature fish

Note: Captive breeding is common, helping reduce pressure on wild populations.

Health Considerations

Banggai Cardinals can be sensitive:

• Brooklynella: A parasitic infection they’re particularly susceptible to - quarantine is essential
• Starvation: May not compete well for food
• Stress: Easily stressed by aggressive tank mates

Prevention: Always quarantine new fish for 3-4 weeks, target feed, and maintain peaceful tank environment.