What is the difference between a Cardinal Tetra and a Neon Tetra?

Are Cardinals more expensive than other fish?

Beginning with cost, Cardinals are more expensive, but also more reliable. Firstly, the two fish obviously have very similar characteristics, and this is why aquarium lovers have problems recognizing and choosing between them.

What are the characteristics of a cardinalfish?

It is easily differentiated from all other cardinalfishes by its tasseled first dorsal fin, elongated anal and second dorsal fin rays, deeply forked caudal fin, and color pattern consisting of three black bars across the head and body and prominent black anterior edges on the anal and second dorsal fin.

Do Cardinals prefer acidic or alkaline water?

Although they prefer soft acidic water, as the Neons do, Cardinals are more demanding, preferring a pH below 6 and a hardness level below 5 dGH. Adult Cardinals will reach a length of nearly 2 inches. Like Neons, they are best kept in schools of five or more.

What is the homing behavior of a cardinalfish?

Individual fish exhibit well-defined homing behaviour and return to the original location of their group when disturbed. The Banggai cardinalfish often coexists with various anemonefish and anemone shrimp when sheltering in anemones and corals; when found among sea urchin spines, it associates with several other genera of cardinalfish.

What are the characteristics of cardinal fish?

The species is differentiated from all other cardinalfish by its tasseled first dorsal fin, elongated anal and second dorsal fin rays, and deeply forked caudal fin. It is brilliantly colored with contrasting black and light bars with whitish spots over a silvery body.

Are cardinalfishes good beginner fish?

Cardinalfishes are thus ideally suited as beginner’s fishes, as at least one species, Pterapogon kauderni, is no more difficult to breed than an easy-to-breed freshwater fish and in addition it is always easy to find homes for the young. Cardinalfishes constitute a family – scientifically known as the Apogonidae – within the perciform fishes.

Is rainwater alkaline in aquariums?

Rainwater borehole water, water from streams, and ponds are extremely high in acidic or alkaline levels, hence they must not be added into the tank, untreated. Will Plants Lower pH in an Aquarium?

Why can’t I keep fish in acid water?

Keeping fish in soft acid water (RO water with a pH less than 6.5) is more challenging than keeping fish in even slightly alkaline hard water (typically pH greater than 7.5, GH greater than 3 and KH greater than 1). The reasons for this have to do with the way nitrates and DOCs can cause a rapid chemical and biological cascade in acid water.

Why do cardinalfish crawl out of the tank?

The fishes that swim around the reefs may get infected with parasites. Luckily, the tiny fish also feast on the larval stage of these parasites. While living in a tank, the shy fish will tend to hide away, but then crawl out from the hiding space. Tropical water is the natural habitat of Cardinalfish.

What is the function of the Banggai cardinalfish?

The Banggai cardinalfish is a paternal mouthbrooder. The female plays an active function in courtship and set development, which happens a couple of hours to a couple of days prior to spawning. Mating sets develop spawning areas numerous meters far away from the primary group and strongly safeguard them. The eggs are around 2.5 mm in size.

What kind of fish is Banggai Cardinal?

Banggai cardinalfish. The Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) is a small tropical cardinalfish in the family Apogonidae. It is the only member of its genus. This attractive fish is popular in the aquarium trade.

What kind of fish is a Kaudern’s cardinalfish?

Description: The Kaudern’s Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) is a small tropical cardinalfish (family Apogonidae). Also known as the Banggai Cardinalfish or Longfin Cardinalfish, it has a majority of silver highlighted by black striping and white dots on the body and on the long fins.

Why do cardinalfish glow in the dark?

The symbiosis with luminescent bacteria seen in many small cardinalfishes is an adaptation to life in dark, murky water and enables them to glow in the dark (this is termed bioluminescence).

What is the relationship between a cardinalfish and a sea urchin?

So the relationship is probably a true symbiosis offering reciprocal benefits, while the use of sea urchins by other cardinalfishes, without the sea urchin gaining anything, is termed commensalism.

What is a cardinalfish?

Cardinalfishes constitute a family – scientifically known as the Apogonidae – within the perciform fishes. At present almost 350 different species are recognized, divided among 33 genera.

Can fish live in pure rain water?

These fish can live in pure or nearly pure rain water. You may use pure rainwater mixed with 5 or 10% tap water for fish like these. You need to monitor the aquarium closely. Because there is no buffering capacity in the water, the pH can quickly drop to dangerously low levels of you overfeed, for example.

Can I use rainwater in my Aquarium?

Yes, you can use rainwater in your aquarium, but you have to know a few things first before using the rainwater. What is the hardness of your tap or well water? What fish are you keeping or intending to keep? What are the preferred conditions, especially water hardness, of the fish you are intending to keep?

Why don’t fish freeze in cold water?

Fish living in cold climates have evolved an adaptation to keep from freezing: antifreeze proteins. Arctic and Antarctic fish families have these proteins in their blood. They’re part of why these fish can live in waters that other fish can’t.

Why do fish need to acclimate before adding to aquarium?

Rapid swings in water temperature, pH or salinity can shock a fish, which soon leads to death. It is for this reason that you should acclimate any fish that you bring home before adding them to your aquarium. There can be a large difference between the water in the bag and the water in your aquarium.

Do cardinal fish get along with other fish in a tank?

A study of their pattern/coloration would be interesting to read. The Pajama Cardinalfish is favorite with nano reef tank hobbyists due to their small size and temperament. They should get along with most other species (don’t keep them with tank mates large enough to scarf them) and will leave the saltwater invertebrates in the tank alone.

Why do cardinalfish suck up what they think they eat?

When the cardinalfish sucks up what it thinks will be dinner, the tiny sea creature, a type of ostracod, emits a burst of light. That burst saves the ostracod’s life-by getting it spat out. Not all ostracods create these light shows, and these cardinalfish can’t tell which tasty morsels will do so before eating them.

What is a Banggai cardinalfish?

Banggai cardinalfish. Credit: NOAA Fisheries. Banggai cardinalfish. Credit: NOAA Fisheries. The Banggai cardinalfish is a small marine bony fish. The species is endemic to the Banggai Archipelago in Indonesia but has been introduced outside of its natural range through the ornamental live reef trade.

What does the Banggai fish eat?

The Banggai, along with most others in the cardinalfish family, feeds on plankton and small, bottom-dwelling crustaceans. This species reaches about 3 inches in total length.

What is destroying the Banggai cardinalfish’s coral reef habitat?

The Banggai cardinalfish’s coral reef habitat is destroyed by the use of fish bombs (typically made with fertilizer and phosphorus) and cyanide to catch fish for the live reef fish trade.

How big of a tank does a Banggai Cardinal need?

Aquarium Size : 30 gallon (114 liters) minimum. Banggai Cardinal Fish Tank Mates : May be able to keep a small school of these in larger aquarium setups with peaceful tank mates. Could be considered a reef safe fish.

How do I care for a Banggai cardinalfish?

You may need to start with frozen or live fish food and then try to get them onto vitamin enriched flake foods. Aqua cultured specimens should be a little easier to feed. You may be able to keep multiple Banggai Cardinalfish in the same tank if it is sufficiently large enough.

What are the different types of cardinal fish for sale?

There are a variety of marine cardinal fish for sale that include the Pajama Cardinal as well as the beautiful black and white Banner Cardinalfish for sale also known as the Bangai Cardinalfish for sale. Cardinalfish are relaxed slower swimmers by nature.