Yellow-Striped Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus cyanosoma) Care Guide
Ostorhinchus cyanosoma is a small Indo-Pacific cardinalfish with orange-yellow stripes that forms aggregations on sheltered reefs and is bred in captivity.
Overview
Ostorhinchus cyanosoma is a small marine cardinalfish of the family Apogonidae, described by Bleeker in 1853 and formerly placed in the genus Apogon. FishBase reports a bluish-silver body marked with about six orange-yellow stripes, with a maximum length around 8 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Apogonidae
- Genus: Ostorhinchus
- Scientific name: Ostorhinchus cyanosoma
- Common synonym: Apogon cyanosoma
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species ranges widely across the Indo-Pacific, from the Persian Gulf and Red Sea south to Mozambique, east to Fiji, and north to the Ryukyu and Bonin Islands. It lives in sheltered, clear-water reef areas in lagoons and on seaward reefs, typically at 1 to 15 m (recorded to 50 m), forming aggregations under ledges, in holes, or among sea-urchin spines.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 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 reports that the species feeds on planktonic crustaceans and small invertebrates, with a trophic level of about 3.6. In the aquarium it accepts small meaty marine foods.
Compatibility
It is a peaceful, aggregating species of the middle water column. It is well suited to calm marine communities with clownfish, tangs, wrasses and gobies, and should not be housed with large predators.
Breeding
FishBase records the species as a mouthbrooder with distinct pairing during courtship and spawning, and notes that it has been successfully reared in captivity.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2021), as reported by FishBase.