TankBud

Amboina cardinalfish

Fibramia amboinensis

Also known as Apogon amboinensis, Ambon Cardinalfish

SaltwaterFish

Amboina cardinalfish (Fibramia amboinensis)
Biota · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
3.5 in
9 cm
Minimum tank
50 gal
190 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Mouthbrooder · Hard
Rarity
Very rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Apogonidae
Origin
Indo-West Pacific (East Africa to the Solomon Islands)

Overview

The Amboina cardinalfish is a peaceful, reef-safe cardinalfish that hovers in the middle of the tank. It is easy to keep and a good choice for a calm saltwater community.

Did you know

The Amboina cardinalfish is one of the few cardinalfish in the hobby that routinely leaves full seawater in the wild. It moves between mangroves, brackish river mouths and even fresh water as the tide changes.

Caring for the Amboina cardinalfish

Keep Amboina cardinalfish in a tank of at least 50 gal (190 L), which suits a small group. They settle into normal reef conditions and want caves, overhangs and shaded structure to hold near.

Hold the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Captive-bred fish are hardy and take pellets and frozen foods without fuss.

The Amboina cardinalfish is peaceful and social, and it does best in a group of three or more with calm tank mates. Adults may eat very small shrimp and fish, so choose the tiniest tank mates with care.

The male is a mouthbrooder, and one brooding fish was found carrying roughly 3,000 eggs. Breeding them in an aquarium is hard.

Good to know

The Amboina cardinalfish, Fibramia amboinensis, belongs to the family Apogonidae. It was described as Apogon amboinensis in 1854 and moved to the newer genus Fibramia in 2014. It carries a dark stripe through each eye, from the snout to the gill cover. It is also sold as the Ambon cardinalfish.

In the wild

The Amboina cardinalfish is an inshore specialist of the Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa to the Solomon Islands. It lives around mangrove roots, river mouths and quiet estuaries.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Amboina cardinalfish is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an Amboina cardinalfish need?

An Amboina cardinalfish needs at least 50 gal (190 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Amboina cardinalfish need?

An Amboina cardinalfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does an Amboina cardinalfish eat?

An Amboina cardinalfish eats pellets and frozen foods, and captive-bred fish take them without fuss. Adults may also eat very small shrimp and fish.

How big does an Amboina cardinalfish get?

An adult Amboina cardinalfish reaches about 3.5 in (9 cm).

How does an Amboina cardinalfish breed?

Amboina cardinalfish are mouthbrooders, with the male holding the eggs in his mouth. One brooding fish was found carrying roughly 3,000 eggs. Breeding them in an aquarium is hard.

Related species