Apogon sealei

(Fowler, 1918)

Seale's Cardinalfish

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Malaysia to the Solomon Islands, north to Southern Japan, south to northern Australia, and Palau.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits branching corals in protected lagoons and usually found at depths between 10 – 85 feet (3 – 25 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans/zooplankton during evening hours.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade with this very good species having a pale tannish body with several darkish horizontal lines from the snout to the tail. There’s also a dark spot on the caudal peduncle.

Can be maintained well lighted fish-only or reef aquariums as this species does not seem to be negatively affected by bright lighting. Aquariums should also have several rocky caves/hiding areas if needed by this species. 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 almost all 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.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Apogonidae

Subfamily: Apogoninae

Genus: Apogon/Ostorhinchus

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

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

Can technically be found also listed as: Ostorhinchus sealei.

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