Flame Cardinal – Apogon Maculatus

October 22nd, 2008 |

Author: Fish // Pets, Livestock, and Wildlife // ArticlePros.com

Species name: Apogon Maculatus
Common names: Flamefish, Flame Cardinal
Family: Apogonidae (Cardinalfishes)
Subfamily: Apogoninae
Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Maximum Length: 4 in.
Minimum tank size: 20 gal.
Hardiness: Easy
Aggressiveness: Low
Reef Compatibility: May eat ornamental shrimps
Diet: It require a well-balanced and vitamin-enriched diet of meaty foods such as feeder fish, crustacean and mysid shrimp and bloodworms. Feed daily.

Additional information:
In the wild, the flamefish is commonly found along sea walls and pilings of the caribbean’s coral reefs at depths that can reach more than 100m.
It’s body is fiery red with light some blue and green and has black spots on its back. Unfortunately, it’s color often fades after it has been in captivity for some time, especially if not feed properly.

It is a nocturnal species that remains hidden in cracks and crevices during the day where it swim in a stationary motion.

It can be aggressive towards other cardinal fish. Only one should be kept in a tank unless in mated pairs. Otherwise it does well with peaceful tank mates as long as it has caves and places to hide. The ideal water conditions should be as follows: Temperature between 72 and 79° F with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4, sg 1.020-1.025 and dKH at 8 to 12.

Patrice Lapointe
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