Pajama cardinalfish

Care at a glance

The pajama cardinalfish looks as though it were assembled from three different fish: a yellow face, a broad black band across the middle and a rear body covered in red spots. It swims slowly, likes to hang in one spot and is therefore a point of calm in a busy tank.

By day it often hovers motionless among coral branches or under an overhang; towards evening it becomes active. That slow feeding does mean fast tankmates can out-compete it, so feed deliberately and several times over. Like the Banggai, the male broods the eggs in his mouth. Small groups often work, though they may gradually thin themselves down to a pair.

Good to know

• Active at night

Related species

• Chalk bassSerranus tortugarum
• Melanurus wrasseHalichoeres melanurus
• Orchid dottybackPseudochromis fridmani
• Yellow coris wrasseHalichoeres chrysus
• Fairy wrasseCirrhilabrus sp.
• Midas blennyEcsenius midas