Dr. John Ernest (Jack) Randall (†), Hawaii
Info
The small cardinalfish Siphamia spinicola occurs in groups, in sheltered bays and lagoons, sometimes in association with Seriatopora corals, the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster plancki or Diadema sea urchins.
Among the spines of diadem sea urchins, various cardinalfish seek shelter from predators.
The cardinalfish has a greenish-gray coloration with a narrow back, on the tops of the body there is a large black area divided by a white stripe at the back and shimmering silvery over the abdominal region and the lower part of the head.
Unfortunately we have to owe photos of a living cardinalfish.
For those interested in cardinalfishes we recommend the free download of the book "Cardinalfishes of the World" by Rudie H. Kuiter:
https://reefbuilders.com/2019/09/16/cardinalfish-book-identification/
The term "reef safe" is often used in marine aquaristics, especially when buying a new species people often ask if the new animal is "reef safe".
What exactly does reef safe mean?
To answer this question, you can ask target-oriented questions and inquire in forums, clubs, dealers and with aquarist friends:
- Are there already experiences and keeping reports that assure that the new animal can live in other suitably equipped aquariums without ever having caused problems?
- Is there any experience of invertebrates (crustaceans, hermits, mussels, snails) or corals being attacked by other inhabitants such as fish of the same or a different species?
- Is any information known or expected about a possible change in dietary habits, e.g., from a plant-based diet to a meat-based diet?
- Do the desired animals leave the reef structure "alone", do they constantly change it (boring starfish, digger gobies, parrotfish, triggerfish) and thus disturb or displace other co-inhabitants?
- do new animals tend to get diseases repeatedly and very quickly and can they be treated?
- Do known peaceful animals change their character in the course of their life and become aggressive?
- Can the death of a new animal possibly even lead to the death of the rest of the stock through poisoning (possible with some species of sea cucumbers)?
- Last but not least the keeper of the animals has to be included in the "reef safety", there are actively poisonous, passively poisonous animals, animals that have dangerous biting or stinging weapons, animals with extremely strong nettle poisons, these have to be (er)known and a plan of action should have been made in advance in case of an attack on the aquarist (e.g. telephone numbers of the poison control center, the treating doctor, the tropical institute etc.).
If all questions are evaluated positively in the sense of the animal(s) and the keeper, then one can assume a "reef safety".
Among the spines of diadem sea urchins, various cardinalfish seek shelter from predators.
The cardinalfish has a greenish-gray coloration with a narrow back, on the tops of the body there is a large black area divided by a white stripe at the back and shimmering silvery over the abdominal region and the lower part of the head.
Unfortunately we have to owe photos of a living cardinalfish.
For those interested in cardinalfishes we recommend the free download of the book "Cardinalfishes of the World" by Rudie H. Kuiter:
https://reefbuilders.com/2019/09/16/cardinalfish-book-identification/
The term "reef safe" is often used in marine aquaristics, especially when buying a new species people often ask if the new animal is "reef safe".
What exactly does reef safe mean?
To answer this question, you can ask target-oriented questions and inquire in forums, clubs, dealers and with aquarist friends:
- Are there already experiences and keeping reports that assure that the new animal can live in other suitably equipped aquariums without ever having caused problems?
- Is there any experience of invertebrates (crustaceans, hermits, mussels, snails) or corals being attacked by other inhabitants such as fish of the same or a different species?
- Is any information known or expected about a possible change in dietary habits, e.g., from a plant-based diet to a meat-based diet?
- Do the desired animals leave the reef structure "alone", do they constantly change it (boring starfish, digger gobies, parrotfish, triggerfish) and thus disturb or displace other co-inhabitants?
- do new animals tend to get diseases repeatedly and very quickly and can they be treated?
- Do known peaceful animals change their character in the course of their life and become aggressive?
- Can the death of a new animal possibly even lead to the death of the rest of the stock through poisoning (possible with some species of sea cucumbers)?
- Last but not least the keeper of the animals has to be included in the "reef safety", there are actively poisonous, passively poisonous animals, animals that have dangerous biting or stinging weapons, animals with extremely strong nettle poisons, these have to be (er)known and a plan of action should have been made in advance in case of an attack on the aquarist (e.g. telephone numbers of the poison control center, the treating doctor, the tropical institute etc.).
If all questions are evaluated positively in the sense of the animal(s) and the keeper, then one can assume a "reef safety".
