Black cardinalfish in groups?

[Betta132]

Are black cardinalfish one of the species that typically work well in a group? This is for future reference, my Biocube isn't large enough for a single 4.5" fish, let alone a group.
Also, what's the largest fish one could eat? They seem to have reasonably large mouths.

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

Black cardinal is a very general name and could be a few species but all of the jet black ones I have seen in person do not like to be near others and will probably kill each other if confined. Also as a general rule for all cardinal fish, they will eat anything that may or may not fit in their mouth. If it might fit, they will try to eat it.

 

[Betta132]

Apogon melas, I think. Googled "black cardinalfish" and looked for the closest match.
Ok, so loners only? What about mated pairs? My LFS has a pair that seem to like each other. They hang out near each other and don't fight or anything.

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

I'm not sure about pairs. If you think they are a pair then that might work. I just don't think that a group would work well.

 

[Betta132]

Too bad, that would have been neat for a future tank.

 

[Big E]

I have had a trio in a 29g tank and now a 40 breeder for a year and 2 months and they are fine together.

They each need their own hidey hole or ledge, so they will defend their space but it's nothing more than open mouth posturing. These fish are timid and non aggressive.

Maybe if two were to pair off it might be different, but so far they ignore each other.

They prefer low light and aren't going to swim together unless in a very large group and even then I think they only do that when very young like clownfish.

They will swim around in the open more when the lights are off and are much less timid also.

 

[snorvich]

They will swim around in the open more when the lights are off and are much less timid also.

That is because they are nocturnal.

 

[Big E]

That is because they are nocturnal.

Not sure nocturnal is a good way to describe them. They are asleep at night like most fish.

Here's a fish base description--

" Found in shallow well protected coastal bays, commonly found under jetties, hiding in dark areas (Ref. 48635); also in inshore rocky areas and among branching coral "

They are a lot less timid when other non-aggressive dither fish are in the tank.