Cardinalfish

ID points

• Small body and large head; the eye takes up almost half the head
• The two dorsal fins are clearly separated
• Males brood the eggs in their mouths

Basics

Family

Apogonidae

Length

5–12 cm

Depth

1-50 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Shallow tropical coral reefs worldwide

Habitat

Shaded coral reefs, active at night

Diet

Zooplankton, small crustaceans

Easily confused with

AnthiasHovers in schools in the water above reef slopesFlame AngelfishFlame orange-red ground with several vertical black bars on the flanksFlame HawkfishBright red all over, with a ring of black around the eyes

Fun fact

The male cardinalfish holds the fertilised eggs in his mouth until they hatch. Through the whole brooding period he takes in nothing at all, and only starts feeding again once the young have swum free.