Saltwater Fish for Beginners: Cardinalfishes (Family Apogonidae)
Image via iStock.com/ouddy_sura By Kenneth Wingerter While some aquarists thrive on the challenge of keeping delicate or highly specialized fishes, most (particularly first-timers) are happier to settle with something less demanding. Saltwater fishes are known to require a good amount of care overall, but certain types are clearly preferable to others when it comes to simplifying husbandry. Of these, the cardinalfishes are most definitely big standouts. The Cardinal Choice Sure, their pretty markings make cardinalfishes desirable as ornamental fish. But this rather underappreciated group has a lot more going for itself than just that. The most notable points on its long list of positive attributes include: They tend to attain modest body sizes, making them suitable for smaller aquarium systems. They are quite hardy, being highly tolerable of shipping stress, handling and suboptimal water conditions. They are easy to feed. They are completely reef-safe. They are relatively peaceful, showing little aggression toward their own or other species. Compared to many other ornamental fish families, they are extremely disease-resistant. They are also readily able to spawn in captivity, so many fortunate aquarists who keep them get an opportunity to observe their fascinating mouth-brooding behavior, where the fish will care for their offspring by holding them in their mouth for extended periods of time.









