Experience with Banggai Cardinals?

FSUNole_reefer · Aug 30, 2015

Hi R2R! I have two Banggai cardinals and it's been about 2 weeks since they've been in my tank... One of them (slightly bigger) is always visible in the tank, usually in the foreground playing and eating... While the other is always in the background and hardly visible. He stays in a rock cave in the shadows... My concern is that he hardly eats...? Is this typical Banggai behavior? Any experience or suggestions appreciated! Thank you all.

reefndude · Aug 31, 2015

I have 3 in my tank. 2 stick together while the other tends to hang alone.

reef4beer · Aug 31, 2015

Same happened to me, I threw in 2 Cardinals and they both hid for almost 2 weeks making appearances randomly.

I thought it was a bully in my tank but turns out they were just shy at first. Have you tried feeding live brine shrimp?

RMS18 · Aug 31, 2015

I also have 2 going on 3 weeks I think. One is more active than the other during the day. At night they are both active. The shy one I do not think is 100% comfortable yet.

Waters · Aug 31, 2015

I have noticed that every Cardinal I have ever had (specifically the Pajamas and Banggai) have always had completely different personalities. Some hide while some are always in the front following anybody that walks by in case they are being fed. Also, is it possible one is picking on the other and forcing it behind the rockwork?

Paul B · Aug 31, 2015

They are very big eaters and should be fed meaty foods like clams. They spawn every couple of months

eatbreakfast · Sep 1, 2015

If they are not hanging out together one is picking on the other. As they mature bangaii cardinals become intolerant of other bangaiis of the same gender. Also, unlike most other reef fish they do not change gender, so a male is always a male and a female always a female.

Harold Green · Sep 1, 2015

I have four in my dt and the smallest one hid behind the rocks seldom coming out for a month. Now lately it's joined the other two in a school while the forth is larger and cruises the entire tank. With only two the larger is more than likely picking on the smaller.