TankBud

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
Mouthbrooder · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Apogonidae
Origin
Indo-West Pacific (Andaman Sea to the Solomon Islands)

Overview

The blue-eye cardinalfish is a peaceful, reef-safe schooling fish for the middle of a saltwater tank. It is easy to keep and a good choice for a calm reef.

Did you know

Young blue-eye cardinalfish are thought to mimic tooth-armed cardinalfish species with similar stripes. The borrowed resemblance is believed to let the harmless young venture into the open more freely.

Caring for the blue-eye cardinalfish

Keep blue-eye cardinalfish in at least 53 gal (200 L), with branching rockwork or coral to hover over and open water in front. They rarely stray far from their chosen thicket. They are slow, methodical swimmers that stay in the middle of the tank.

Hold the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Feed meaty frozen foods along with small pellets.

Keep them in a group of three or more, where a simple hierarchy forms without serious quarrels. They are peaceful and do best with peaceful tank mates, and only the smallest ornamental shrimp are at any real risk. Males brood the eggs in their mouths, and breeding them takes a little experience.

Good to know

The blue-eye cardinalfish, Ostorhinchus compressus, is a cardinalfish in the family Apogonidae. Its body carries dark ochre stripes, and a ring of iridescent blue around each eye gives it its common name. It is also sold as the ochre-striped, split-banded or blue oxide cardinalfish.

In the wild

Blue-eye cardinalfish live in sheltered lagoons and coastal reefs from the Andaman Sea to the Solomon Islands. By day, small groups hover among the branches of Acropora and Porites corals.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The blue-eye cardinalfish is a peaceful, schooling 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 a blue-eye cardinalfish need?

A blue-eye cardinalfish needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a blue-eye cardinalfish need?

A blue-eye cardinalfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a blue-eye cardinalfish eat?

A blue-eye cardinalfish eats meaty frozen foods along with small pellets.

How big does a blue-eye cardinalfish get?

An adult blue-eye cardinalfish reaches about 4.7 in (12 cm).

Does a blue-eye cardinalfish need a group?

Yes. A blue-eye cardinalfish is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a blue-eye cardinalfish breed?

Blue-eye cardinalfish are mouthbrooders, and the males brood the eggs in their mouths. Breeding them takes a little experience.

Related species