Banggai cardinal (Pterapogon kauderni) care guide

Group
Marine fish
Other names
Banggai cardinalfish, Kaudern's cardinalfish
Family
Apogonidae (cardinalfishes)
Origin
Endemic to the Banggai Islands, Indonesia, plus a small population off Central Sulawesi; introduced in Lembeh Strait. Shallow reefs and seagrass, 1.5–2.5 m.
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
8 cm
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
Salinity SG 1.023–1.026
Minimum tank
100 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
yes
Lifespan
about 4 (captivity) years

Care

Choose captive-bred fish: they are widely available and cheap, and wild populations have been badly hit by collecting. 100 litres is an estimate for a pair or small group; give shelter such as a long-spined urchin or branching coral. Water figures given here are general marine aquarium guidance, not species-specific: 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4 and a specific gravity of 1.023–1.026. Keep nitrate low and water quality stable. Unusually for a cardinalfish it is active by day. In the wild it forms settled groups that shelter among urchin spines. Black-and-silver bands, tall fins and many white spots. An iridovirus is a known cause of deaths. Conservation: the IUCN lists it as Endangered because of its tiny, fragmented range and harvest for the aquarium trade; surveys recorded declines of over 90% in fished populations. A 2007 proposal to list it on CITES Appendix II was withdrawn, and it is not CITES-listed. Sources: Wikipedia, List of marine aquarium fish species (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listofmarineaquariumfishspecies); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterapogonkauderni). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An opportunist feeding mostly on copepods, with other plankton and small bottom-living animals. In captivity it takes mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and small pellets readily.

Breeding

A male mouthbrooder and one of the easiest marines to breed at home. The female starts courtship and prefers larger males. She lays up to about 90 eggs, which the male carries in his mouth for up to 30 days without eating. The young are released fully formed, skipping the drifting larval stage, and can be raised on small live and frozen foods. Captive-bred fish now dominate the trade.

Compatibility and tank mates

Reef safe and peaceful with other fish. Adults can squabble with each other in small tanks, so keep a pair or a group in a roomy tank. Avoid large predators.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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