Apogon maculatus

(Poey, 1861)

Flame Cardinalfish

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Canada to Massachusetts, and south to Bermuda, Bahamas, and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.

Size: 4 inches (11 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal reef caves usually in small aggregations near large over-hangs and usually found at depths between 3 – 400 feet (1 – 120 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans/zooplankton during evening hours.

General Husbandry: Common in the trade and this very hardy and quite nice looking species has a reddish pink body with a black eye, black spot on the upper rear body and a dark saddle-like spot on the caudal peduncle.

Best maintained fish-only aquariums with subdued lighting, yet can also be maintained in reef aquariums, with both having several rocky caves/hiding areas. If maintained with moderately aggressive tankmates, will remain in hiding during daylight hours and may not get its fair share of the food when the aquarium is fed. If maintained with peaceful tankmates, will spend a good portion of its time in the aquarium open areas.

As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should be enriched and finely chopped and fed several times daily. Depending upon the environment in which its maintained, the best time of the day to feed are early morning and evening hours.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Apogonidae

Subfamily: Apogoninae

Genus: Apogon

FYI: Best maintained in small groups of five or more.

A threat to small tankmates, shrimp, and small worms/feather dusters.

Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: With caution

Invertebrate Safe: With caution

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful

Minimum Tank Size: 30+ gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5