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Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Cardinalfish

Orbiculate Cardinalfish

Sphaeramia orbicularis

The lesser-known sibling of the popular Pajama Cardinalfish, sharing the same chunky, round-bodied build, but patterned with a thin dark 'waistband' and scattered dark spots toward the tail rather than orange polka-dots. It is just as hardy and easy-going, settles well in a small same-species group, and is genuinely nocturnal — mostly hidden by day, feeding on plankton and small invertebrates from dusk onward. Reef-safe with corals, but as an opportunistic night hunter it will pick off very small ornamental shrimp and other tiny invertebrates given the chance.

Temperament
Peaceful
Max size
3.9"
Min tank
30 gal
Reef-safe
Reef safe
Diet
Carnivore
Zone
Mid-water, Rockwork
Best in a shoal of 3+.
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Tankmates

How Orbiculate Cardinalfish gets on with the rest of the reef, checked pair by pair by the same engine as the live pre-flight.

Best kept apart

A real clash — aggression, predation or a same-genus fight.

Purple TangPurple Tang (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Picasso TriggerfishPicasso Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Dragon WrasseDragon Wrasse has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.Volitans LionfishVolitans Lionfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.Snowflake MoraySnowflake Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.Zebra MorayZebra Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.Chainlink MorayChainlink Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.Golden Dwarf MorayGolden Dwarf Moray has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.Rectangle TriggerfishRectangle Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Clown TriggerfishClown Triggerfish (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Miniata GrouperMiniata Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Panther GrouperPanther Grouper (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Six-Line SoapfishSix-Line Soapfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.Painted FrogfishPainted Frogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.Dogface PufferDogface Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.Porcupine PufferPorcupine Puffer has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.Lunare WrasseLunare Wrasse (aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Spanish HogfishSpanish Hogfish has a big enough mouth to eat the much smaller Orbiculate Cardinalfish.

Keep an eye on these

Usually fine, but worth watching in a smaller tank.

Sailfin TangSailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Red Coris WrasseRed Coris Wrasse (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Emperor AngelfishEmperor Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Naso TangNaso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Scopas TangScopas Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Queen AngelfishQueen Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Blueface AngelfishBlueface Angelfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Niger TriggerfishNiger Triggerfish (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Blonde Naso TangBlonde Naso Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Desjardini Sailfin TangDesjardini Sailfin Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.Orange Shoulder TangOrange Shoulder Tang (semi-aggressive) is much larger than the peaceful Orbiculate Cardinalfish and may harass it.