All fish / Apogonidae

Ring-tailed Cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus aureus

Also known as ring tailed cardinalfish, ringtail cardinalfish, golden cardinalfish, apogon aureus, bandtail cardinal, ring-tail cardinal, yes, リュウキュウヤライイシモチ, 金天竺鲷, 环尾天竺鲷

A stocky coppery-gold cardinalfish with blue lines across the head and a broad black band around the base of the tail. It is calm, hardy and spends the day hovering near rockwork, which makes it a good choice for a peaceful reef or community marine tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

23 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Pair or small group of 3 to 5 in a large tank

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood and meaty frozen foods, fed in the evening

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific: East Africa and Red Sea to Indonesia, Philippines, northern Australia and southern Japan

Breeding

Males brood the eggs in their mouths until they hatch. Pairs sometimes spawn in captivity, but raising the tiny planktonic larvae is difficult.

Good to know

Mainly active at dusk and at night, and it may eat very small shrimps or fish. Larger than many cardinalfish, so give it room and avoid aggressive tankmates.