All fish / Apogonidae

Orbiculate Cardinalfish

Sphaeramia orbicularis

Also known as orbic cardinalfish, orbiculate cardinal, polka dot cardinalfish, kerosene cardinal, orbic cardinal, humpback cardinalfish, マンジュウイシモチ, capungan, 环纹圆天竺鲷, 圆天竺鲷

This is a deep-bodied, silvery-brown cardinalfish with a dark vertical bar across the middle of the body and dark spots on the rear half. It is hardy and calm, and spends much of the day hovering among rocks or mangrove-style cover, so it suits peaceful community marine tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8 to 8.4

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Pair or small group, with plenty of space for each

Diet

Carnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood and quality frozen or pellet foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to Indonesia, Philippines, Kiribati and north Australia

Breeding

Males brood the eggs in their mouths until they hatch. Pairs spawn quite readily in aquariums, but rearing the small larvae needs live plankton foods and takes some effort.

Good to know

In nature it lives in sheltered, often brackish mangrove and lagoon shallows, so it copes with lower salinity. Adults can squabble with their own kind, and they will eat very small shrimps and fish.