All fish / Apogonidae

Pajama Cardinalfish

Sphaeramia nematoptera

Also known as pyjama cardinalfish, pajama cardinal, polka dot cardinalfish, spotted cardinalfish, coral cardinalfish, pajama cardinal fish, pyjama cardinal, マンジュウイシモチ, capungan pijama, 睡衣天竺鲷, 红眼天竺鲷

A stocky little cardinalfish with a yellow face, bright red eyes, a dark vertical band across the middle and a rear body covered in red-brown spots, which gives it its pyjama name. It is hardy, calm and reef safe, hovering slowly near rockwork, which makes it a popular choice for peaceful reef tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Group of 3 or more, or a pair

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, small pellets and frozen foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Central Pacific: Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, northern Australia to Fiji and Micronesia

Breeding

Males are mouthbrooders that carry the eggs for around a week until the larvae hatch. Pairs spawn fairly readily in captivity, but rearing the planktonic larvae needs live rotifers and copepods and is challenging.

Good to know

Can be bullied by boisterous tankmates and may eat very small shrimp or fish; mostly active at dusk, so feed when it will take food.