Margarita Cardinal
- Species Information
- Scientific Name:Apogon margaritophorus
- Described:The Margarita Cardinal
- Temperament:Peaceful
- Maximum Size:2.5 inches
The Margarita Cardinal, Apogon margaritophorus (Bleeker, 1854), also called the copper-lined or red-striped cardinalfish, is a fairly rare find in the marine aquarium trade. This beautiful, peaceful fish has a calm demeanor, unique coloration, and is a wonderful addition to most reef tanks. In the wild, these cardinals are naturally found in small groups living among shallow reefs or seagrass beds. They have a unique habit of hovering in the water column in a small group, often in seagrass or near urchins and anemones. In the home aquarium, they will often seek refuge under rock ledges or near branching corals. This unique behavior is interesting to observe and makes cardinal fish a popular choice for reef systems and is a good choice for smaller “nano” reef aquariums. At Sustainable Aquatics, we feed these fish our Hatchery Diet as well as frozen brine and mysis shrimp.
Physical Description– These cardinals have a long body with a rounded midsection and a pointed face. Their body is pearl-white with horizontal stripes that vary in color from copper hued to bold red-orange. In the center of their body, two horizontal lines are connected with short vertical bars giving them a very unique appearance.
Temperament– Like most cardinals, the margarita prefers to be kept in small groups. They will often form pairs within these groups and will readily spawn in captivity. This fish will get along with other peaceful tank mates but should not be kept with very aggressive fish, as their small size makes them vulnerable to predation. They may pose a threat to small crustaceans but keeping them well fed should eliminate the risk.
Size– This cardinal fish remains fairly small, reaching a maximum length of 2.5 inches.
Diet– At Sustainable Aquatics, we feed these fish our Hatchery Diet as well as frozen brine and mysis shrimp.
Distribution– The margarita cardinal is naturally found in the Western Central Pacific from Indonesia to the Solomon Islands. Our broodstock at Sustainable Aquatics originates from Bali.