Ochre-striped Cardinalfish (Apogon compressus) Care Guide
Apogon compressus is a nocturnal Indo-West Pacific cardinalfish that shelters near branching corals; juveniles mimic Cheilodipterus species.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Apogon compressus is a marine cardinalfish of the family Apogonidae, described by Smith and Radcliffe in 1911. FishBase lists it under the current valid name Ostorhinchus compressus and records it from the Indo-West Pacific. It reaches about 12 cm in total length, with a common length near 8.5 cm, and has a white or pinkish body bearing roughly six red-brown stripes.
Taxonomy
- Family: Apogonidae
- Genus: Apogon
- Scientific name: Apogon compressus
- Current valid name (FishBase): Ostorhinchus compressus (Smith & Radcliffe, 1911)
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species ranges from Malaysia eastward to Palau and the Solomon Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to the Great Barrier Reef, at depths of 2 to 20 m. It occurs in small groups among or near mounds of branching corals.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 200 L
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- Group size: at least 3 individuals
- Lifespan: 3-8 years
Diet
FishBase classifies the species as carnivorous, with a trophic level of about 3.5. As a nocturnal cardinalfish it feeds at night; in captivity it accepts meaty marine foods.
Compatibility
It is a peaceful, schooling species that holds the middle water column. FishBase notes that juveniles mimic larger Cheilodipterus species through their coloration. It suits calm communities with clownfish, tangs, wrasses and gobies, and should be kept away from large predators.
Breeding
FishBase records the species as a mouthbrooder with distinct pairing during courtship and spawning, and reports that it has been successfully reared in captivity.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2009), as reported by FishBase.
Apogon compressus Breeding Guide
Overview
Apogon compressus (treated by FishBase as Ostorhinchus compressus), the ochre-striped cardinalfish, is a member of the family Apogonidae reaching about 12 cm total length, with a common length near 8.5 cm. It is distributed in the Indo-West Pacific from Malaysia east to Palau and the Solomon Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to the Great Barrier Reef, in small aggregations among or near branching corals at depths of 2 to 20 m. It is a nocturnal paternal mouthbrooder and has been reared in captivity.
Sexing
Mature males have a larger jaw and longer head to accommodate the egg mass during oral incubation, which is the most reliable distinguishing feature. Outside the breeding period the sexes are similar, so the brooding individual is the confirmed male.
Conditioning
Adults condition on a varied carnivorous diet of small meaty foods, offered in the evening to match their nocturnal feeding. Keeping a group among branching coral or rockwork that mimics their natural shelter encourages a pair to form and reach spawning condition.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
FishBase records distinct pairing during courtship and spawning. After pairing, the female releases eggs that the male takes into his mouth and fertilises, forming a cohesive egg ball that he broods. That this species has been reared in captivity indicates the full cycle can be closed under aquarium conditions.
Egg & Fry Care
The male incubates the egg ball orally and does not feed during brooding. On release the young require small live first foods through their pelagic larval phase, so a dedicated larval-rearing system improves survival relative to leaving fry in the display tank.
Common Challenges
Protecting the brooding male from disturbance so he retains the clutch, and supplying suitably small first foods to the larvae, are the main challenges. As with related cardinalfishes, larval feeding is the principal bottleneck even though this species has been reared successfully.