ANIMAL: Seale’s Cardinalfish Ostorhinchus sealei Type of Animal: Cardinalfish Habitat: Within/among coral branches/branching corals in shallow sheltered areas, reefs, not found deeper than 85 ft Location(s): Indo-Pacific from SE Asia to Solomon Islands, N to southern Japan, & S to northern Australia & Micronesia Appearance: Cream to lemon colored fish w/ 2 thin yellow-brown stripes, dark spot on tail base above line of mid stripe, blue iris, juveniles yellower w/ darker stripes Food/Diet: Shrimp, zooplankton, small featherduster worms, clams, small fish, zoobenthos, krill Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in aquaculture. Captive breeding reducing demand for wild-caught fish. Lifestyle: Schools of 2-100 fish Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young: Fry Group: School Weight: 0.4 oz Gestation: 3 weeks Life Span: 3-5 years Body Length: 1.5-3.5 in Stripes decrease in number as fish mature. Also called Cheek-Barred Cardinalfish, Bargill Cardinalfish, & Lemon Drop Cardinalfish. These fish can be active at any time but more active at dusk & night. These fish are rather timid. Males mouth-brood eggs until they hatch. These fish spend much of their time hiding & darting. They’re very peaceful fish. This species used to be in the genus Apogon but is now in the genus Ostorhinchus. These small fish have big appetites. Females release around 50 eggs per spawn, which males then fertilize. Fun Fact(s): These fish are not common in the aquarium trade. Named after American ichthyologist Alvin Seale (1871-1958). These fish are not for beginner aquarists.
