Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Apogon

Apogon aureus

(Lacepede, 1802)

Ringtail Cardinalfish

Likely Reef Tank Suitable

Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, north to Miyakejima Japan, and south to Australia and New Caledonia.

Size: 5 inches (14 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits holes in rocks and areas under ledges in shallow coastal reefs and usually found at depths between 3 – 150 feet (1 – 45 m) where it feeds during evening hours on small fishes and crustaceans/zooplankton.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade and has a yellowish coppery body with a black band on the caudal peduncle.

Best maintained fish-only aquariums with subdued lighting, yet can also be maintained in reef aquariums, with both having several rocky caves/hiding areas. 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 a good portion 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. Depending upon the environment in which its maintained, the best time of the day to feed are early morning and evening hours.

Taxonomy:

    Order: Perciformes

    Suborder: Percoidei

    Family: Apogonidae

    Subfamily: Apogoninae

    Genus: Apogon/Ostorhinchus

FYI: Depending upon aquarium size, more than one specimen can be maintained in the same aquarium. But in small aquariums, one specimen should be the limit.

Their diet should contain a color enhancer, such as Spirulina.

Often shows up in the trade as an Apogon species, but can be technically found also listed as: Ostorhinchus aureus.

    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

 Apogon aureus (Ringtail Cardinalfish)
Photo © Bob Fenner
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