Orbiculate Cardinalfish

Facts about the Orbiculate Cardinalfish, it is known as polka-dot or Chubby Cardinalfish. The Orbiculate Cardinalfish are species of cardinal fish and are found in coastal areas. The Orbiculate Cardinalfish belong to the family of Apogonidae and grow to a length of 2.5 to 4 inches.
The Orbiculate Cardinalfish species is hardy and is overlooked because it does not have fancy colorations like other Cardinalfish. But Orbiculate Cardinalfish have rainbow like colors that defines them. The Orbiculate Cardinalfish have a greenish-yellow faces with orange/red eyes and a visible waistband which has scattered red spots to toward the tail. Their bodies are silver-based and are dressed with a bold black margin. Their posterior is dotted with orange polka dots. The Orbiculate Cardinalfish fit perfectly well in the aquarium. These Orbiculate Cardinalfish can live for a very long time especially when kept in aquariums or rather kept captive.
Most of these Orbiculate Cardinalfish are nocturnal and hide most time of the day only to emerge when it is dark. When the Orbiculate Cardinalfish are in the wild, they hide in reef grass and only come out when they are feeding. The Orbiculate Cardinalfish hide though when they feel threatened and do not want to face their enemies. But when they are kept captive in aquariums, the Orbiculate Cardinalfish tend to come out to the open more often. The Orbiculate Cardinalfish are not very aggressive and can live in groups especially the juveniles. But the large ones are better placed alone because they can become aggressive and fight.
When they are in the wild, the Orbiculate Cardinalfish spend most of their nights searching for food. The Orbiculate Cardinalfish feed on zoobenthos, crustaceans, invertebrates, and other small fish. If they are kept captive, feed them with shrimp and frozen meat foods. However, do not give them the flakes, pellets, and other dry foods. These foods are not suitable for Orbiculate Cardinalfish.
Unlike other Cardinalfish, these are known to spawn in captivity. But it has been observed that there are no young ones that have been found. It is difficult to differentiate the males from the females. But for easier identification you will realize that the male carries fry in their mouth. They brood through the mouth and if you want to make the difference just look out for that. Other signs to help in identification are to look closely at their jaws. During the time of brooding, the jaws are swollen and the fish lack appetite. In most cases the fry do not survive and this is common if the fish are kept in a congested aquarium. But in the wild it has been observed that most of them survive.
When they are held in captive, the Orbiculate Cardinalfish are supposed to be kept in spacious aquariums of not less than 30 gallons. Keeping them in small schools is good because they are peaceful and rarely fight. The Orbiculate Cardinalfish are slow swimmers and in case you want to keep them with other fish, keep them with tank mates that are peaceful. A group of three to five is perfect.