Pterapogon kauderni

[ralphie16]

I spoke with a very helpful person at LiveAquaria earlier today but I was hoping to get a little more input on here as well.

I have a trio of Pterapogon kauderni I purchased from your DD not long ago. They are in QT right now but I see aggression towards the third one. I was going to put them in my 45 display with peaceful clingfish and gobies, but I am worried the 45 cube's size would cause more aggression in the future. The other option would be to put them in my 125 with moorish idol and butterflyfish. The space is much larger so the aggression would hopefully be reduced but the Idol and Butterflys are very aggressive feeders.

So its smaller tank with peaceful fish, or larger tank tank with more aggressive feeders. Which tank would be more suitable for them?

 

[dfs/la2]

Ralphie16,

Thank you for your recent order with Live Aquaria, we are excited to hear of your new purchase. We would like to let you know that, if your quarantine tank is a smaller aquarium, this may be the cause of the aggression. With a larger space there will be less aggression between the Pterapogon kauderni. We would suggest either aquarium for this species.

Sincerely,
Chris C.
Live Aquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[ralphie16]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10603639#post10603639 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dfs/la2
Ralphie16,

Thank you for your recent order with Live Aquaria, we are excited to hear of your new purchase. We would like to let you know that, if your quarantine tank is a smaller aquarium, this may be the cause of the aggression. With a larger space there will be less aggression between the Pterapogon kauderni. We would suggest either aquarium for this species.

Sincerely,
Chris C.
Live Aquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

I called your customer service dept. when I bought them to inquire about their tank size at Divers Den and they said 20 high. I have them in a 20 long so its almost same as you guys had but unlike when they were in your care, they are now showing aggression towards the third one. I still have a few weeks in QT left so hopefully they will not kill each other in the meantime. I have read many stories on this board about these fish being aggressive towards conspecifics so I was kinda expecting this.

So in the large tank they will go, but you think they are aggressive enough feeders to keep up with butterflys and Moorish Idol? They seem to be going at the food in QT very actively but the situation could turn a 180 if they now must compete with the like of the Idol?

 

[dfs/la2]

Ralphie16,

Thank you for your post. The Kaudern’s Cardinals will do well in the aquarium with the Moorish Idol and Butterflyfish. We suggest feeding a variety of food for proper nutrition. You may also want to soak their food in garlic extreme when first introduced to the new aquarium to help boost their immune systems. They are considered semi-aggressive and should not be intimidated by their tanks mates.

Sincerely,
Chris C.
Live Aquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith