Banggai Cardinal Help

[emcmilla]

So, I have had my Banggai Cardinal for 2 weeks and I am not sure what's up with him. I haven't seen him eat at all. I have tried mysis and brine shrimp to no avail. This morning he was in an odd position. Instead of him being horizontal he was vertical. His head up near the top of the tank. I have a solar fairy wrasse in the tank with him. They're both in QT still. This afternoon the banggai is sitting near the bottom. He doesn't seem to be breathing heavily. I really don't know what to do for him.

I hope someone could provide some suggestions before it's too late.

Thanks in advance

 

[tc2007]

That's the problem with wild Bangaais. They are hard to feed. Another issue maybe they are nocturnal so feed mostly at night. Have you seen them active at night?

 

[davidfrances]

Hate to say this, but your cardinal sounds like it is in a bad way. I had really bad luck with Banggais for years, until I scored a bonded pair off Live Aquaria. They are doing well and I hope they will breed soon.

Good luck and all the best.

 

[emcmilla]

Thanks for the responses. He died last night. I won't be getting another, especially because they are endangered and I didn't realize that until after.

 

[tc2007]

Thanks for the responses. He died last night. I won't be getting another, especially because they are endangered and I didn't realize that until after.

There are tank bred too. Those will eat I think.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=747+871+2672&pcatid=2672

 

[davidfrances]

Thanks for the responses. He died last night. I won't be getting another, especially because they are endangered and I didn't realize that until after.

Hi, I hope my previous response didn't discourage you.

I experienced the same thing with this species several times over the years. It really wasn't until I purchased a tank bred F1 pair from LiveAquaria that I had any success. I believe they were $80 for the pair. In fact, tonight when I went to feed mine, I noticed the male is carrying eggs, so I hope I'll have a few survivors from this batch!

Tank bred F1's are the way to go. They are being sustainably raised, and if you can also contribute to the breeding process, you can further contribute to reducing the pressure on wild populations.

 

[justthewife]

he may have been sick when you got him or had some other disorder. Was he acting this way from the beginning or did it come on suddenly? Was the wrasse picking on him? I am sorry he died. Don't let it discourage you. It is the circle of life. I got my bangai in a pair. I also got my pajama cardinals in a pair.

 

[emcmilla]

Hi, I hope my previous response didn't discourage you.

No, your post didn't discourage me . I appreciate everyone's response. What I meant, was that I didn't like contributing to killing a species that's endangered. I may get a captive bred one or pair.

Also, I think he was sick all along. I never seen him eat. And my anthia was bugging him so I switched him to the QT with my wrasse. Wrasse never bothered him.

In any event, I am glad I know now that for cardinals captive bred is the way to go!

Thanks everyone!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Though were they are currently collected most for the aquarium trade is from.around Bali, Indonesia , where they are an invasive species, so getting wild caught ones does not really affect the natural population from.Bangaii atoll, except that they dont need to be collected from there.

 

[tc2007]

No, your post didn't discourage me . I appreciate everyone's response. What I meant, was that I didn't like contributing to killing a species that's endangered. I may get a captive bred one or pair.

Also, I think he was sick all along. I never seen him eat. And my anthia was bugging him so I switched him to the QT with my wrasse. Wrasse never bothered him.

In any event, I am glad I know now that for cardinals captive bred is the way to go!

Thanks everyone!

I lost 2 this week. One had internal parasites and one had a bacterial infection. Will try some more later from a different LFS.