I have a 4 month old 120g dt with only 2 occi clowns in it at this point. It is time to get more fish and my wife really likes the Bangaii Cardinals. I knpw natually these are schooling fish. For my size aquarium is is ok just to get one or how many would you recommend. They would all go in at the same time.
Cardinals --- how many should you get?
- Thread starter bamf25
- Start date
small alien
The fungus is among us.
They only school as juveniles, I believe. Get one or a known male/female pair.
klepto
New member
I would stock a minimum of 3 for that sized tank. They are much more enjoyable if you have multiples. Go with an odd number. Groups of odd numbered schooling fish are more appealing to the eye.
Also, try to find some of ORA's aquacultured cardinals. Many people report hardiness issues with wild collected P. kauderni in addition to the fact that they are considered "threatened by extinction do to collection for the aquarium trade".
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Pterapogon-kauderni.html
Also, try to find some of ORA's aquacultured cardinals. Many people report hardiness issues with wild collected P. kauderni in addition to the fact that they are considered "threatened by extinction do to collection for the aquarium trade".
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Pterapogon-kauderni.html
Not in my experience..
small alien
The fungus is among us.
How big is your tank, klepto? How long have you had your group? How many in your group? I'm curious not trying to argue. If I've seen 20 of these threads, the advice is virtually always a single or pair.
klepto
New member
I haven't kept them in my personal tank. I've only helped maintain an exhibit that has at least a half dozen (its a smaller tank). I was referring to their schooling nature which I have observed in numerous closed systems. Perhaps I'm offering ill-advice.
From the IUCN page on the species:
Group Size:
Within its natural geographic range P. kauderni formed groups with a mean of 9.5 individuals, although the majority of them were composed of fewer individuals. Group size varied with age class, habitat and microhabitat. The mean size of the 448 censed groups (3,672 individuals) was 8.2 individuals, and the group means per site ranged from 3.9 to 19.8 individuals. Most groups (73% of all groups) were composed by few individuals (1 to 6). The largest single group found was about 500 individuals (Vagelli and Erdmann 2002, Vagelli 2005).
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/63572/0
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29reef
It's all about the flow
A group would likely consist of adults and juveniles.
These fish are best kept in PAIRS only in a reef tank. It's always best to buy tank raised as they are much hardier. Get two small specimens and enjoy them growing up. Maybe one day they will spawn and you'll have babies.
If you want a group of cardinals you'll have to find a different species.
These fish are best kept in PAIRS only in a reef tank. It's always best to buy tank raised as they are much hardier. Get two small specimens and enjoy them growing up. Maybe one day they will spawn and you'll have babies.
If you want a group of cardinals you'll have to find a different species.
MikeandNicole
New member
Get no more than a pair, eventually as they mature they will become very aggressive towards their own sex and can kill them off. +1000 on getting tank raised.
small alien
The fungus is among us.
Thanks for your reply, klepto.
klepto
New member
For sure. Thanks for challenging me on the subject. After doing more reading, it seems that the general consensus is to keep no more than a pair. I think in larger tanks keeping multiples is more feasible.
small alien
The fungus is among us.
DD has CB pairs up now and again. Supposedly, males and females have slightly differently shaped jaws but most say you cannot tell visually.
