Banggai Cardinal (Pterapogon Kauderni)
Also Known As: Kaudern's Cardinalfish
Compatibility and Behavior
The Banggai Cardinal is one of the most elegant, graceful, and instantly recognizable species in the hobby. Long, elegant extensions on the dorsal and caudal fins give it a banner-like silhouette as it hovers motionless in the water column, often parked around branching corals, urchin spines, or rock spires. Personality-wise, this is a peaceful, community-friendly species that fits well into calm reef setups alongside other small, non-aggressive fish. Adults can get territorial with their own kind but only in tight quarters, so keep this in mind if you have a small tank. Groups can work in larger, well-structured tanks, and may even school together if you have enough of them. Banggais are considered reef safe and typically leave corals and clams alone, making it a versatile species for most peaceful systems.
Aquarium Requirements
Banggai Cardinals do well in smaller to medium-sized, mature reef aquariums with calm to moderate flow and plenty of structure for hovering and shelter. Branching rockwork, coral skeletons, or even artificial urchin-like decorations help them feel secure and encourage that natural grouping behavior they're known for. Lighting is flexible. They adapt to soft, low-light systems just as well as brighter SPS reefs, as long as shaded retreats are available. They feed slowly and deliberately, so it's worth avoiding highly aggressive or hyperactive tankmates that might beat them to every meal. Offer a varied diet of frozen mysis shrimp, finely chopped meaty foods, enriched brine, and quality micro-pellets, and feed gently enough that food stays suspended long enough for them to pick it off in the water column.
Specifications
Approximate Size: .75-1.5"
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Indonesia
Care Level: Easy
Reef Safe: Yes
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Pairs well with
Banggai Cardinal (Pterapogon Kauderni)
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Shipping Information
- Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday. Orders will be shipped overnight on the soonest possible shipping day, unless you request to hold the order for up to one business day.
- Your order will ship same-day if placed before 12:30 PM PST on a shipping day.
- Orders placed after 12:30 PM PST will ship on the next shipping day.
- Stay tuned to our Announcement Bar (black bar at the top of every page) for important shipping announcements...we may reach our max limit of orders we can ship on Mondays.
- If it is very hot, very cold, or if you live in a rural area, ship to a UPS Access Point to save your livestock from hours of exposure to the elements. Click here to see how.
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FAQ’s
When will you ship my order?
We will ship on the soonest possible shipping day. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, and we ship same-day if the order is placed before 12:30 PM PST (unless announced otherwise). For example, if ordering at 1 PM on Thursday, your order will ship the following Monday.
Can you hold my order until next week?
Unfortunately not. We can hold items for up to one business day before shipping. We restock weekly, so chances are good we will receive more by next week!
When is the best time to order?
Saturdays and Sundays are the absolute best time to order, followed by Wednesday evenings. The closer you order to an inventory update, the better the available inventory.
What happens if something I ordered is unavailable?
We will email you to request a substitution. If you would like your original order, chances are good that it will be available to ship within the week (unless it is a very rare item).
Can I modify my order once it has been placed?
This is possible, but not guaranteed. Please email us if you need to modify your order or shipping address, and we will gladly make the changes for you, or let you know if it is too late.
What should I do if UPS is unreliable in my area?
We recommend shipping to a UPS Access Point, as packages get delivered there first before trucks go on residential deliveries. Click here to see how.
What salinity do you ship at?
Salinity for fish is 1.018-9. Salinity for inverts is 1.024-5.
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Contact Us
Send us an email at sales@reefbeauties.com and we will get back to you shortly.
We do not offer phone calls. We handle our inquiries with timely emails to ensure a qualified and high-quality response, to have all conversations on record, and to avoid miscommunications that can occur over the phone.
Free shipping on orders over $199!
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
When will you ship my order?
We will ship on the soonest possible shipping day. Our shipping days are Monday-Thursday, and we ship same-day if the order is placed before 12:30 PM PST (unless announced otherwise). For example, if ordering at 1 PM on Thursday, your order will ship the following Monday.
Can you hold my order until next week?
Unfortunately not. We can hold items for up to one business day before shipping. We restock weekly, so chances are good we will receive more by next week!
When is the best time to order?
Saturdays and Sundays are the absolute best time to order, followed by Wednesday evenings. The closer you order to an inventory update, the better the available inventory.
What happens if something I ordered is unavailable?
We will email you to request a substitution. If you would like your original order, chances are good that it will be available to ship within the week (unless it is a very rare item).
Can I modify my order once it has been placed?
This is possible, but not guaranteed. Please email us if you need to modify your order or shipping address, and we will gladly make the changes for you, or let you know if it is too late.
What should I do if FedEx is unreliable in my area?
We recommend shipping to a FedEx Ship Center, as packages get delivered there first before trucks go on residential deliveries. Click here to see how.
What salinity do you ship at?
Salinity for fish is 1.018-9. Salinity for inverts is 1.024-5.