Banggi cardinal hiding

[workin_ike]

Got 2 cardinals about 2 months ago, doing well. About 3 weeks ago I got a 3rd one. Since getting the 3rd one, one of the 1st cardinals now keeps hiding in the top corners above my powerheads. Comes out a little to eat and that's it. Does this day and night with lights off. I have all calm fish, never see it being picked on.

 

[snorvich]

Got 2 cardinals about 2 months ago, doing well. About 3 weeks ago I got a 3rd one. Since getting the 3rd one, one of the 1st cardinals now keeps hiding in the top corners above my powerheads. Comes out a little to eat and that's it. Does this day and night with lights off. I have all calm fish, never see it being picked on.

Remove the "lone ranger". Three is a crowd with this species since it is undesirable to have two of the same sex. In a very large tank it can sometimes work, but in anything less, it will not.

 

[workin_ike]

But everything I have read, they like to be in schools. Which is why I planned on eventually having 5 or 6. This is the first I've been told they only like to be in pairs. And this is in a 180 gallon tank.

 

[snorvich]

But everything I have read, they like to be in schools. Which is why I planned on eventually having 5 or 6. This is the first I've been told they only like to be in pairs. And this is in a 180 gallon tank.

They do not school. In a six foot tank, the lone ranger may survive; in a smaller tank, it might not. Best case, it will be reclusive.

 

[workin_ike]

Thanks for the info. So, in a large tank, u think getting 1 for the loner? Or better off getting rid of it?

 

[snorvich]

Thanks for the info. So, in a large tank, u think getting 1 for the loner? Or better off getting rid of it?

If it is not being hassled, you can leave it. If it is being hassled, it will likely be eliminated if it stays. A six foot 180 gallon tank is not really "large" but it may be large enough for the single to survive.