Orbiculate Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia orbicularis)
| Orbiculate Cardinalfish Sphaeramia orbicularis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Orbiculate Cardinalfish |
| Name Lat. | Sphaeramia orbicularis |
| Family | Cardinalfishes |
| Family lat. | Apogonidae |
| Order | Nurseryfishes |
| Order lat. | Kurtiformes |
| Origin | Indo-West Pacific |
| Habitat | Coastal waters, mangroves |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| pH | 8.1-8.4 |
| Hardness | 8-10 °KH |
| Behavior | Peaceful |
| Keeping | Pair, group |
| Reef Compatible | Yes |
| Care Level | Easy |
| Life Span | 2-5 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 10 cm |
| Temperature | 24-28 °C |
| Salinity | 33-36 ‰ |
| Aquarium | ~ 200 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 4" |
| Temperature | 75-82 °F |
| Salinity | 1.020-1.025 sg |
| Aquarium | ~ 50 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The range of Sphaeramia orbicularis is the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from East Africa to Kiribati and from the Ryukyu Islands (Japan) to New Caledonia. They live in small schools only in shallow, protected coastal waters on reefs and in mangrove areas.
Maintenance
They require a well-structured aquarium with swimming space and a reef structure (shelters, caves) with live stones that act like a biological filter, as well as sea grasses or seaweed. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free sands, gravels, stones or sea sand of various grain sizes may be used as substrate
Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals
| Salinity: 33-36 ‰ | pH value: 8.1-8.4 |
| Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH | Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l |
| phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l | nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l |
For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention must be paid to consistently good water quality and water values.
Diet
They are crepuscular lurkers that eat mainly planktonic small crustaceans, larvae and small fish. The change of food is unproblematic. The diet should consist of a combination of live and frozen foods, such as artemia, mysis, shrimp, and krill, with chopped fish, clam, and shrimp meat, and live feeder fish for adults, or a commercial vitamin-enriched frozen food mix. Dry food (flakes, granules) is hardly accepted. Food that has sunk to the bottom is disregarded.
It is recommended to feed small portions several times during the twilight phase
Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.
Behaviour and compatibility
It is recommended to maintain them in a group. Within the group there is a strict hierarchy. To avoid ranking fights, they should be placed in the aquarium at the same time, which must offer many hiding places. They can be socialized well with other peaceful fish.
Sex dimorphism
They are protogynous hermaphrodites, i.e. most males develop from functional females and are called "secondary males". The dominant, usually slightly larger animal always has male status. There are no known external distinguishing characteristics.
Reproduction and breeding
The offspring has already succeeded several times. After an extended courtship ritual, the male takes the egg package into his throat sac. The young fish released from the mouth brood immediately take small food, such as Brachionus (rotifers).
Important
They are free swimming, but quite stationary lurking hunters that make clearly audible growling sounds when excited. As coral reef dwellers, they should not be kept in a fish-only aquarium
If different species are kept together, care should be taken to ensure that the fish match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements and social behavior, and that the setup meets the needs of all species kept together. New fish to be introduced must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak
Source: BAENSCH & PATZNER (1998): Meerwasser Atlas Bd. 7, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF