Astrapogon stellatus

(Cope, 1867)

Conch Cardinalfish

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Southern Florida, Bermuda, Bahamas and to northern South America.

Size: 3 inches (8 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits sheltered bays, lagoons, tidepools and found over sandy slopes in shells and tube sponges. Usually found at depths between 3 – 100 feet (1 – 30 m) where it feeds on small fishes and crustaceans/zooplankton during evening hours.

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade with this very hardy species having a silvery body with a black spot 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 and/or large shells to hide in during daylight hours. 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: Astrapogon

FYI: A threat to small shrimp and small worms/feather dusters.

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