Seale's Cardinalfish

Ostorhinchus sealei

Also known as Apogon sealei, Cheek-barred Cardinalfish

SaltwaterFish

Seale's Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus sealei) — Rickard Zerpe · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH: 8.1–8.4
Adult size: 3.9 in (10 cm)
Minimum tank: 29 gal (110 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Reef safe: Reef safe
Origin: Western Pacific (Malaysia to the Solomon Islands)
Family: Apogonidae

Overview

This is a genuinely shoaling species, so keep at least three and expect them to stay grouped as adults. They are very peaceful, easily crowded out by boisterous fish, and happiest with gentle tankmates. Captive-bred fish eat pellets and frozen foods without hesitation, and they appreciate a small feeding around dusk.

In the wild

Seale's cardinalfish gathers among branching corals in calm, reef-protected lagoons from Malaysia east to the Solomon Islands, seldom venturing below about 10 meters. Aggregations hold low over the reef by day and spread out after dark to feed. In the aquarium a trio settles well into 110 liters with branching structure to shelter in.

Good to know

Ostorhinchus sealei is a cardinalfish in the family Apogonidae, reaching about 10 cm. It has yellowish stripes on the head and a short dark bar below the eye, which is why it is also called the cheek-barred cardinalfish. Pairs form inside the shoal and the male broods the eggs in his mouth.

Did you know

In January 2020 this became the 17th cardinalfish species ever bred in captivity, raised at Biota's hatchery in Palau, and the trade now runs on those captive-bred shoals.

Tank mates

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