Broad striped cardinal fish
The scientific name of the fish is Ostorhinchus angustatus and was formerly known as Apogon angustatus
Flower cardinal fish
The scientific name of the fish is Apogon fleurieu is also known as Bulls eye Cardinal fish or Ring tailed cardinal fish.
Short-tooth Cardinalfish
Also known as Plain Cardinal fish, Golden Cardinal fish, Yellow purpil short tail cardinal, or Blue Bridle Cardinal fish.
Interesting facts to know
- Unlike most marine fishes, cardinal fishes produce a very small amount of eggs, which themales brood and incubate in their mouth.
- Broad Striped Cardinal Fishes seem to be fairly disease-resistant.
- Based on recent import data, cardinal fishes have been ranked as one of the ten most valuable marine aquarium fishes imported into the United States.
- The flower cardinal fish has proportionally large eyes with two conspicuous blue lines across them. They have two dorsal fins and a black band around the tail. The dorsal and caudal fins are edged in orange and the lower half of the body has an orange tint to it. The lateral line is fairly prominent. They grow up to 10 cm in length. Found in schools away from the reef on deep coral outcrops on sand flats, sheltering during the day coming out at night to feed on zooplankton and bottom dwelling crustaceans.
- The flower cardinal fish are nocturnal feeders, feeding mainly on zooplankton and small benthic organisms. During the day they gather in shoals and at night they disperse and feed singly.
- Broad striped cardinal fish feed on planktons and benthic invertebrates. They are spotted in solitary, pairs or small groups but watching them in group is very breath-taking. They live in crevices and intertidal rocks.
Petroscirtes mitratus
Also called Floral blenny,is a typical marine fish of the family Blenniidae found in shallow depth of the reef. They are fairly distributed along the coast in the indo-pacific waters.
Head and body are speckled and mottled usually with dark blotches or bands on body, and dark-edged ocelli above and their dorsal fin are elevated. Hence, the origin of the name; High finned blenny.
They stay in pairs in shallow reef lagoons but adults can be found mostly in solitary at the reef flats, while juveniles prefer sea grass hide outs.
They are hardy species who can do well for beginners, and friendly to all levels of aquarium keepers.
Siderea picta
Generally Moray eels are fish species with elongated body that look like snake but has no scales, pectoral or pelvic fins. They have large mouths and gills which they use for respiration. They are nocturnal who are not aggressive unless they get ambushed and distracted while hunting.
They are entirely marine fish in habiting the vast coastal region in the Indo- Pacific Ocean spreading to endemically the eastern part of Africa.
Inhabits reef flats and rocky intertidal shorelines as well as holes and crevices, and feeds mainly at night.
In the captivity they do well if the aquarium is set with rocks for them to hide in during the entire day time, and be fed at night.
