Blue-Eye Cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus compressus

Also known as Blue Oxide Cardinalfish, Ochre-striped Cardinalfish, Blue-eyed Cardinalfish, Split-banded Cardinalfish, Apogon compressus

SaltwaterFish

Blue-Eye Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus compressus) — Ditch Townsend · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH: 8.1–8.4
Adult size: 4.7 in (12 cm)
Minimum tank: 53 gal (200 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Reef safe: Reef safe
Origin: Indo-West Pacific (Andaman Sea to the Solomon Islands)
Family: Apogonidae

Overview

Keep this species in a group of three or more, where a simple hierarchy forms without serious quarrels. It is a slow, methodical swimmer that appreciates peaceful tankmates and a diet of meaty frozen foods plus small pellets. Only the smallest ornamental shrimp are at any real risk.

In the wild

Blue-eye cardinalfish live in sheltered lagoons and coastal reefs from the Andaman Sea to the Solomon Islands, where small groups hover among the branches of Acropora and Porites corals by day. In the aquarium they want 200 liters or more with branching rockwork or coral to hover over and open water in front. They rarely stray far from their chosen thicket.

Good to know

Ostorhinchus compressus is a cardinalfish in the family Apogonidae, growing to about 12 cm. The body carries dark ochre stripes, and a ring of iridescent blue around each eye gives the species its common name. Males brood the eggs in the mouth, as in other cardinalfish.

Did you know

Juveniles are thought to mimic tooth-armed cardinalfish species with similar stripes, and the borrowed resemblance is believed to let the harmless young venture into the open more freely.

Tank mates

Blue-Eye Cardinalfish is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.