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Banggai Cardinalfish

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Pterapogon kauderni

Complete Banggai Cardinalfish care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 30 Gallons tank setup, and compatible saltwater tankmates. Difficulty: Easy.

Banggai Cardinalfish

Quick Answer

Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) is an endangered species from Indonesia. It requires a minimum 30 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 8.1 - 8.4 and temperature range of 24-26°C. This carnivore occupies the middle zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) is an endangered species from Indonesia. Its bold black and white stripes make it a popular reef fish.

Setup

A 30-gallon or larger reef tank with live rock and calm water flow. They prefer dim lighting and hiding spots. A species-only tank is ideal for breeding.

Feeding

Carnivorous; eats mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, and small carnivore pellets. Feed twice daily.

Compatibility

Peaceful. Keep in groups of 3+. Good with other peaceful fish: clownfish, gobies, blennies. Avoid aggressive or fast-swimming tankmates.

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Tank Position
Middle
Water Temp
24-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
8.1 - 8.4

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Carnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

Blue Green Chromis Care Guide: Reef Tank & Diet semanticSimilarity Coral Banded Shrimp Care Guide: Water Params & Breeding semanticSimilarity Firefish Goby Care Guide: Reef Tank & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Banggai Cardinalfish can be kept together?
Keep strictly as a single individual or a confirmed male-female mated pair in a tank of at least 30 gallons (113 liters) with a footprint of 30x12 inches (75x30 cm). Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) are highly aggressive toward conspecifics; dominant pairs will kill any additional fish. In groups over 2, the alpha male attacks until death. Provide at least 2 separate hiding zones (live rock caves, branching coral skeletons) per pair. Community tanks: Keep one specimen with passive tank mates (clownfish, gobies). Avoid multiple males even in large systems.
What are the precise marine water parameters for Banggai Cardinalfish?
Target pH 8.1 - 8.4, specific gravity 1.023 - 1.025 (35-35.5 ppt), General Hardness 7 - 12 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 8 - 12 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 32,000 - 35,000 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 45,000 - 55,000 μS/cm, and temperature 72°F - 78°F (22°C - 26°C). Maintain ammonia and nitrite at 0 ppm, nitrates below 10 ppm. Use a protein skimmer and live rock (1-2 lbs/gallon). Stable salinity is critical; fluctuations >0.002 specific gravity cause osmotic shock. Add iodine supplements (0.06 ppm) for health.
What is the nutritional and medication protocol for Banggai Cardinals?
They are carnivores requiring 55% protein, 15% fat, and 30% marine algae. Feed frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp (enriched), chopped krill, and copepods twice daily. They rarely accept dry foods; soak pellets in garlic extract to entice. Offer live adult brine shrimp weekly. Medication alert: Tolerate copper (0.15 mg/L) but sensitive to hyposalinity (below 1.017 specific gravity). Use praziquantel for internal parasites; avoid formalin, which damages gills. Quarantine with cupramine at 0.4 mg/L for 14 days. They are susceptible to uronema marinum; use metronidazole at 5 mg/L.
How to breed Banggai Cardinalfish in captivity?
Condition a bonded pair with frozen mysis and enriched brine shrimp for 3 weeks. Maintain temperature 76°F (24°C) and photoperiod 12 hours. They are paternal mouthbrooders: the male courts with quivering, then female lays 20-40 large eggs (3 mm). Male picks up eggs and broods for 18-23 days at 76°F. During brooding, male eats minimally; separate him if emaciated. He releases 0.3-inch (8 mm) fully formed fry that accept baby brine shrimp immediately. Remove male after release. Raise fry in a separate 10-gallon tank with gentle flow and feed 4 times daily.

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