Pajama Cardinalfish (Captive Bred)

Overview

Appearance and characteristics

• Distinctive patterns: A greenish-yellow face, a bold black stripe across the midsection, and posterior covered in red polka dots.
• Size: Reaches about 3 to 3.3 inches (8.5 cm) in length.
• Eyes: Bright red eyes are a prominent feature.
• Behavior: They are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night.
• Social structure: They are peaceful and often kept in small schools, where they can form a strict hierarchy. 

Habitat and care

• Habitat: Found in the Western Pacific Ocean. In an aquarium, they need a 30-gallon minimum tank with plenty of hiding places like live rock.
• Tank mates: Suitable for community saltwater tanks as they are peaceful with other fish, but may show some aggression with each other. They are also reef-safe and will not harm invertebrates.
• Diet: Carnivorous, accepting a wide range of foods like frozen mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and flaked foods. 

Reproduction

• Mouthbrooding: Male pajama cardinalfish are mouthbrooders, holding the fertilized eggs in their mouths for weeks until they hatch.
• Mating: They form pairs for spawning, but males have been known to incubate eggs from other females.
• Breeding: Can be bred in captivity, but raising the fry may require a separate breeding tank.