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Pajama Cardinalfish

Sphaeramia nematoptera

Marine Marine Indo-Pacific Usually captive bred

A quirky reef fish with big red eyes, a yellow-green face, a dark waist band, and polka-dot rear flanks. Nocturnal by nature, it spends daylight hours hovering placidly among rock branches. Completely reef-safe and peaceful, it does best in quiet groups with subdued lighting.

Also called: Pajama cardinalfish, Cardinalfish, Coral cardinalfish.

7.5 cm adult length, drawn to scale. deep body.

Saltwater species. The planner judges it with a marine rule set. A reef or fish-only tank takes months to mature and costs more to run than freshwater. See the marine page.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 3 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 7.5 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 120 L, at least 80 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 20 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 2 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 24 to 28 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 8.1 to 8.4 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH undefined, KH 8 to 12 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Low Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Moderate Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size At least 3, ideally 5 Kept alone or in small numbers it hides, fades or turns on tankmates.
Temperament Peaceful Territorial: weak.
Swims in Middle water Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 5 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Suits a first tank A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.
Salinity Marine, about SG 1.023 to 1.025 Needs salt water, a different build and a longer-running tank than a freshwater set-up.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Pajama Cardinalfish is an carnivore that swims in the middle of the tank. It is safe with plants. Give it plenty of cover.

Tankmates

Works with

No close matches in the data. Check the pair tool.

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.