New Shy Bangai Cardinal

MetaKnight101 · Jul 30, 2019

Just bought one Bangai Cardinal for my tank. He seems pretty shy and hangs out in the back of the corner of the tank. Will he slowly come out? They're plenty of other fish (anthias, Royal grama some tangs) nearby so he should feel quite safe. He is the only bangai cardinal in the tank, was it a mistake to put one? According to forums, I heard they do better just single and only school when juvies.

link81 · Jul 30, 2019

I got a bonded pair off live aquaria,
they hung around in the back for a while, but now they're pretty much always front and center.

Tahoe61 · Jul 30, 2019

They are by nature reclusive, and like those darker cryptic areas of the tank. Not typically a social show fish.

MetaKnight101 · Jul 30, 2019

Tahoe61 said:
They are by nature reclusive, and like those darker cryptic areas of the tank. Not typically a social show fish.

If thats the case that kinda sucks since its hard to see him

MetaKnight101 · Jul 30, 2019

link81 said:
I got a bonded pair off live aquaria,
they hung around in the back for a while, but now they're pretty much always front and center.

I do hope that mine turns out to be the case and that he'll hopefully go out more, he seems to be nocturnal because he went out more at night

vetteguy53081 · Jul 30, 2019

Typical Banghai- shy, keep to themselves and often in a given corner. They only eat meaty frozen food- nothing dry

Rjukan · Jul 30, 2019

Mine doesn't hide, it's almost always out. Same with the PJ cardinal I have, and no aggression between them in a 60g cube.

mattzang · Jul 30, 2019

they're nocturnal so they get more active at night. during the day mine just kinda hangs around the sides of the tank

when it learns to associate you with food it'll come out more, but it's not the most active or fun fish to watch

MetaKnight101 · Jul 31, 2019

mattzang said:
they're nocturnal so they get more active at night. during the day mine just kinda hangs around the sides of the tank

when it learns to associate you with food it'll come out more, but it's not the most active or fun fish to watch

kk gotcha that seems to be the case when i checked out him last night he was swimming around the tank normally and not shy at all

JohnMzreef · Jul 31, 2019

mine like to take cover in a gorgonian (vertical stripes). its pretty cool actually

AdamNC · Aug 1, 2019

Mine typically hangs out under my frag rack all the time. Luckily it’s in the front of the tank so I get to see him all the time.

Reefer_Rob · Sep 10, 2019

I have that swim all over and 1 hider. Thought he wasnt feeling well at first but he eats well and looks good...

Westside Guy · Sep 10, 2019

I have a Banggai and a Pajama Cardinal and they both hang out in the rear of the the right side of the tank 90% of the time. The Banggai is not known to be a active swimmer.

The funny thing is that as I am typing this post the Banggai is swimming in the front of the tank.

Jenksreef · Sep 11, 2019

I bought two cardinals about a month ago and at first they were very skittish and didn't want anything to do with me. After a couple days of that, they learned that I'm their food source and they are always hanging out in the front of the tank. Like mattzzang put it, once they learn that you're feeding them they'll be out and about more.

Westside Guy · Sep 12, 2019

Jenksreef said:
I bought two cardinals about a month ago and at first they were very skittish and didn't want anything to do with me. After a couple days of that, they learned that I'm their food source and they are always hanging out in the front of the tank. Like mattzzang put it, once they learn that you're feeding them they'll be out and about more.

I agree that you can entice them to come to the front with food but at the end of the day and something I knew when I purchased them is that they will never be active swimmers.