How many Pajama Cardinalfish?

[2fishy]

I have a 55 gallon aquarium with 30 lbs. of live rock & 2 blue green chromis in it, hermit crabs & snails. The next fish that I have been thinking about adding to the aquarium are pajama cardinal & a six line wrasse or a royal gramma basslet. My question that I can't find the answer to is...is it better to add 1 pajama cardinal to a 55 gallon or is it better to keep 2? I want to keep a communtiy aquarium with nano size fish, so that I may add several fish. Any suggestions on the cardinal?

 

[Scuba Oz]

You can add two to three with no problem in that tank, they are peaceful and will hang together for a schooling effect. They are not big swimmers but are cool to watch nontheless!

 

[AdidaKev]

I agree, better to keep at least two than one alone.

 

[2fishy]

Thanks for your replies! I kind of thought that they would do better when there is more then one, but was torn between more variety, then doing it like "Noah's Ark" and adding them 2 by 2:rollface: . I guess I will be waiting a little while longer to add them...I will need warmer weather...it just started sleeting . You just never know how what season your in when you live in the Midwest! Maybe the mosquitos will freeze!

One more question. How much, if anything, do a small bunch of polyps add to your bioload? Will it contribute to the cycling of your aquarium? I am undecided if I should add some at the same time that I would add 2 cardinals.

 

[AdidaKev]

Polyps and other corals add less bioload than fish. I don't think you'd have any problem adding the fish and polyps at the same time.

 

[2fishy]

Thanks! I think I will try something easy and small to see how it goes! Thanks again!

 

[michaeldaly]

They can be quite shy at first, it might take quite awhile till they stay in the open

 

[2fishy]

Cardinalfish are quite shy? It says that they prefer to hang out in sea grass? Do they do okay if they are in an aquarium with just live rock with some caves. The only other bad part is that the two ends of my aquarium are built up some caves but on the backside of the caves you can see in through the sides. There is a pile of rocks in the center of the aquarium against the back wall, but the two chromis have claimed this area so I am not for sure if they will let the cardinalfish share that area or not. Although, on the caves on each end, the live rock has some natural cave area that are not exposed to any type of viewing, so maybe they will make the best of it. The other problem is that if they are too shy, I wonder if my small children and a loud barking dog will disturb them. The chromis do not seemed bothered by them, but I wonder how a shy fish will handle it. They understand not to bang on the aquarium, they do not understand how to keep the yelling & running down though, or at least not more then 5 minutes if I am lucky.

 

[kraze3]

michaeldaly means the polyps are shy at first. The fish may also be a bit shy because they are in a new surroundings but they will adjust.

 

[2fishy]

Hee-Hee! Sorry! A true blonde moment for this brunette!!

See, motherhood does kill brain cells:spin2:

Anyway, okay, so I can handle shy polyps!

But that is good to know. I know that I have heard that they can take a little while to open up after acclimation.

Thanks for the for the tips on the polyps, & the fish!