Banggai Cardinal fish compatibility

[pathos]

I was considering getting a mated pair of Banggai Cardinals (Pterapogon kauderni) for my 65 gallon reef tank. Current fishes are Purple Dottyback (Pseudochromis porphyreus), Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lineatus) and Gold Stripe Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus). Would the Cardinals be a good choice? Are there any (reef safe) fish that cannot be kept with them? Any tips on keeping these fish please, thanks

 

[davelin315]

Anything that will fit into it's mouth is not safe. Other than that, they don't do a whole lot of fighting with other fish. You may want to get them a couple of long spine urchins to hide amongst the spines (that's supposedly what they do in nature). Not advocating putting urchins in your tank, I'm not an echinoderm believer anymore, but if you want it to be realistic....

 

[pathos]

nah, I think i'll pass on the long spined urchin. it would be cool, but they are poisonous, they topple over your LR and they are toxic if/when they die. As for the Banggai's, my tank has lots of currents flowing around for the corals. is this unfavorable conditions for them? I am not interested in breeding them (except for food for the tank), I just read somewhere that they were supposedly the "perfect reef fish" and wanted to learn more about them. anybody else have experience with them?

 

[bcobra]

I am almost sure they only hide in the urchin when they are juveniles. I have a pair that were moved from a 40g to a 70g because they were being harassed by a small purple tang.In the 40 I have purple tang,purple dottyback, sixline wrasse and a coris wrasse. I never had a problem with them in there the move was mostly so they would breed again and 4 days in the 70 the male is carrying.

In the 70 they are the biggest fish in there I have a pair of perculas,two rainford gobies and one other sm gobie. I have not had a problem as of yet. HTH
Robin

 

[bcobra]

I am almost sure they only hide in the urchin when they are juveniles. I have a pair that were moved from a 40g to a 70g because they were being harassed by a small purple tang.In the 40 I have purple tang,purple dottyback, sixline wrasse and a coris wrasse. I never had a problem with them in there the move was mostly so they would breed again and 4 days in the 70 the male is carrying.

In the 70 they are the biggest fish in there I have a pair of perculas,two rainford gobies and one other sm gobie. I have not had a problem as of yet. HTH
Robin