Where to buy Black Cardinalfish
ReefDock searches the following reef retailers for this fish. Click through to see the live price.
- Search Saltwaterfish
Saltwaterfish
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Amazon
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- Search Petco
Petco
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About Black Cardinalfish
The Black Cardinalfish is a small, stocky fish with a deep black to dark brown coloration throughout its body. It has a rounded head, large mouth, and two dorsal fins. The body is somewhat compressed laterally with a relatively large eye adapted for nocturnal feeding, and the pectoral fins are moderately sized and translucent.
Key facts
- Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72-78°F pH: 8.1-8.3 Salinity: 1.023-1.025
- Min tank size
- 30 gallons
- Appearance
- The Black Cardinalfish is a small, stocky fish with a deep black to dark brown coloration throughout its body. It has a rounded head, large mouth, and two dorsal fins. The body is somewhat compressed laterally with a relatively large eye adapted for nocturnal feeding, and the pectoral fins are moderately sized and translucent.
- Care Requirements
- • Minimum 30-gallon tank; prefers deeper, darker environments • Water: 72-78°F, pH 8.1-8.3, SG 1.020-1.025, low light preferred • Nocturnal; provide caves, overhangs, and dim lighting • Feed small meaty foods: frozen mysis shrimp, copepods, bloodworms • Peaceful; avoid large predatory fish; pair with non-aggressive species
- Reef safety
- Reef Safe
- Difficulty Level
- Moderate difficulty. Black Cardinalfish are hardy and peaceful but are nocturnal and may be shy; they require dim lighting, hiding places, and live or quality frozen foods to thrive. They do best in established reef aquaria with minimal aggression from tankmates.
- Diet
- carnivore
- Feeding Schedule
- 1-2 times daily
- Diet Details
- Feed live or frozen meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, copepods, and finely chopped fish. This species is nocturnal and may require time to acclimate to feeding routines; target feeding or feeding at dusk increases feeding success.
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific region, ranging from the Red Sea and East Africa through Southeast Asia to the Great Barrier Reef and northern Australia. Found in shallow reef environments and coastal waters.
- Common Health Issues
- Ich, parasitic infections, starvation if not fed appropriately, stress-related disease
Research before you buy
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