EmpPleco

I doubt anyone will be able to help me, b/c this is such a BROAD question, but the second to last time I was in one of my lf stores, I see a gorgeous!!!! saltwater fish. Come to think of it, I should have asked back then, what type of fish it was, but didn't, thinking I could find out what is was online -- but I am having a hard time. When I went back yesterday, the fish was no longer there

This is what the fish looks like:

saltwater, in by itself with only a few other clownfish
Maybe about 3 inches look.
Had very intricate delicate looking fins that protrude out (intimidating looking) on both sides like a lionfish.
Kind of looked like a mini mini lionfish, only it was pure black and white (zebra patterned)
Seemed to be pretty aggressive toward the clownfishes, but there was also no sign that he was venomous.

By this description, does anyone know what kind of SW fish this is?? IT's so beautiful I miss seeing it lol

*J

Mike

Hi EmpPleco - did it look like this http://images.google.com/images?svnu...i+cardinalfish ?

EmpPleco

YES YES YES YES wow first reply im surprised.. THANK YOU SO MUCH

Marc

I've seen that fish before. It's amazing how cool it looks

EmpPleco

I love these!! They are so beautiful!! In the future, I want to set up a coral tank with a few of these, and definately some clownfish -- but I am currently trying to find out if they are compatible - they were together in the store, but seemed a little too aggressive for the clownfish - perhaps it was just because it was a small space.. it was only like a 8 gallon tank that they were all in.

Mike

An interesting note about this fish - they are mouth brooders. According to Scott Michael (a very experienced fish writer) cardinal fishes may be the only known saltwater species that are mouth brooders.

I'm not sure if they would be aggressive with clown fish in a larger tank (I wouldn't think so). They can become aggressive with other banggai cardinal fish and keeping schools of them is not recommended.

This is a very cool fish that I've wanted for awhile now.

Mike

EmpPleco

See I looked them up recently and some of the websites said that they are better kept in groups of 3 (or any odd numbers, 5 or 7) as long as there is plenty of cover/hiding spaces. But them some other sites say that they do better solo?? I don't know -- hard to know what you can trust anymore.

anywho -- this may some like a DUMB question, but I really dont know what does mouth brooding mean?

(thanks again for finding the fish for me )

Marc

I'm pretty sure it means that they keep their eggs/young in their mouths - to be honest though I've never really looked it up or anything

newbie101

yep thats what it is--keeping babies in their mouths

EmpPleco

wow pretty darn interesting

Thanks for all your help people!!

Jon

yes and the cardinal fish you saw ( a kaudern's cardinal) is well priced too... only a mere $20 a fish!
very cute fish.

EmpPleco

I thought it was a Banggai Cardinalfish --is this another common name for it?

Jon

yes. 2 names 1 fish.

they are pretty.

They are somewhat agressive, reefsave, and carnivorous. Very pretty especially when they are swimming and very easy to take care of... great for saltwater beginners.

EmpPleco

yea thats what i read

Jon

are you considering a saltwater tank?

EmpPleco

Actually in about a year I plan to get my large 125 gallon FW tank (Because I'm in love with clown loaches, bala sharks and plecos so I want to get a tank that will give them Plenty enough room ) And then shortly after that I plan to get a 40 gallon sw, with clownfish (they are my favorite fish of all time ) and of course now - Banggai Cardinalfishes, and maybe a Peppermint Shrimp.

Right now my fiancee and I are trying to move out of our apartment into a house, so we need more room and more money to spare before we dig into my temptations, lol

Jon

im not sure how many saltwater fish you have looked at but my favorites are:
Strawberry Dottybacks
Royal Grammas
Flame Angels
Oscilleratus clownfish
Anthias

all of these fish are bright neon colors which is what i love about saltwater fish. If you go to the sites that sell them they usually have tons of pictures on every little variation and type of fish. Its great. GL with ure aquaria

EmpPleco

Thanks, JON!

Jon

np

EmpPleco

I really like the purple queen anthias, the royal grammas and the flame angels, but not too crazy bout the others.. Thanks for the ideas

Jon

Np... just look around tons... there are SOOOO many different species of saltwater fish you'll be finding new ones everyday... if there is an aquarium near you its nice to visit and look in the smaller tanks for ideas. Just look around a lot and make sure the fish are compatible with the type of tank you want to make... for instance dont buy chocolate chip starfish if you want corals... gl with your tanks

EmpPleco

Thanks Jon,

By the way don't know much about sw fish, (still just focusing on fw for now as far as research goes), but i am curious why not a chocolate chip with a coral?

Jon

Many fish and inverts are considered not reef-friendly...

chocolate chips for instance will eat coral. just research fish before you buy to make sure they are compatible with your set up

Kanadian

have you looked at a dragon wrasse befor? or a forktail blenny or a long nose hawk! or even the foxface! and my fav. goby the flame goby (not the fire goby but the flame! ) its cause of these fish that are making me start up a salt water tank! they are so amazing to look at and watch @ work!!! i just cant wait to get my tank started and fully cycled now!!!

Miss Mouse

Guys all these fish are just SOOO coool I dnt know what to do with my tank now - I have a clownfish and 2 yellowtailed blue damsels so far but I dont know whether to go the "reef and invertabrate" route or the "fish only" route. I would love lots of live rock and corals and mushrooms, I love starfish too and would prefer to keep fish to a minimum. Could you advise/help me?! My pics are in the marine photo section. Its a 40 gallon tank and I'm going to buy an AquaC protein skimmer next payday. So far I have one little piece of live rock and some naff gravel as the substrate but I think I'm going to get some aragnoite sand. Any recommendations otherwise? Cheers!
Ursh