Threadfin Cardinalfish (Zoramia leptacantha) Care Guide
Zoramia leptacantha is a small, translucent Indo-Pacific cardinalfish that forms dense aggregations above branching coral and breeds in monogamous pairs.
Overview
Zoramia leptacantha is a small marine cardinalfish of the family Apogonidae, described by Bleeker in 1856 and formerly placed in the genus Apogon. FishBase reports a maximum length around 6 cm; the species is reef-associated and tropical.
Taxonomy
- Family: Apogonidae
- Genus: Zoramia
- Scientific name: Zoramia leptacantha
- Common synonym: Apogon leptacanthus
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species ranges across the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and Mozambique to Samoa and Tonga, north to the Ryukyu Islands and south to New Caledonia, at depths of 1 to 12 m. It forms dense aggregations above mounds of branching coral such as Porites cylindrica in sheltered, often turbid bays and lagoons.
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 assigns the species a trophic level of about 3.5 based on its food items; it is a carnivore that takes small zooplankton. In the aquarium it accepts small meaty marine foods.
Compatibility
It is a peaceful, tight-schooling species of the middle water column. It suits calm marine communities with clownfish, tangs, wrasses and gobies, and should not be housed with large predators.
Breeding
FishBase describes the species as a mouthbrooder that forms obligate monogamous, home-ranging pairs without territorial defence, with the male incubating the eggs in his mouth.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020), as reported by FishBase.