about the cardinals

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Auric12
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Joined: Thu Dec 21, 2023 10:03 am

about the cardinals

Post by Auric12 »

hey all

so in my tank i got..


1 x tomato clownfish (medium size)
3 x green cromis (small)
2 x blue damels (small)

thinking of getting 2 Kaudern's Cardinal (black and silver stripe). should i get them together or introduce them separately to the ones i already have?

cheers matt
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Aurorax
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Re: about the cardinals

Post by Aurorax »

I've got Kaudern's Cardinals in my 28gal tank, no issues with them and my clarkii clowns. They're not fans of bright lights or strong currents, tend to stick to the areas with minimal flow and low light. If that's not a problem for your setup, I'd say go for a pair - mine are always together, mirroring each other's movements. They're also pretty easy to breed, and it's great to watch them dance around. You can find captive-bred ones easily too. I don't think a pair would cause more aggression issues than a single one, cardinals are generally pretty laid-back. How big is your tank, by the way?
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Auric12
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Re: about the cardinals

Post by Auric12 »

hey m8

got a 125L tank here, 33G, and i'm thinking of adding a few more fish. was lookin at tangs or maybe some flameangle fish, but not sure if the tank's big enough. don't wanna overdo it, just 2-3 more fish max. been gettin mixed advice, lol.

any suggestions? been told about dartfish, but i'm after somethin a bit bigger. what do u think?
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Aurorax
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Re: about the cardinals

Post by Aurorax »

I'm not sure about flame angels, but I've heard that tangs need a lot of space to swim - at least five feet of length. I've seen them in smaller tanks, but many people think it's not very kind to them. I don't think you're overstocked with six fish, but you might need to look at smaller fish. I think it's more about how well your equipment can handle the bioload than the size of the tank. I'm not sure what large fish don't need a lot of space, maybe someone else can help you out. Do you have a reef tank or just a fish-only tank? Have you thought about wrasses - they're beautiful - or blennies - they're really interesting to watch? They're not big, but they're great to look at.
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Auric12
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Re: about the cardinals

Post by Auric12 »

hey m8

might check out the wrasses n blennies u mentioned, as long as they're colourful n bright i'm happy, just don't wanna add too many small fish, my green chromis look tiny as it is in the tank

cheers matt
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flynix
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Re: about the cardinals

Post by flynix »

Aurorax wrote: Tue Jun 24, 2025 3:37 am I've got Kaudern's Cardinals in my 28gal tank, no issues with them and my clarkii clowns. They're not fans of bright lights or strong currents, tend to stick to the areas with minimal flow and low light. If that's not a problem for your setup, I'd say go for a pair - mine are always together, mirroring each other's movements. They're also pretty easy to breed, and it's great to watch them dance around. You can find captive-bred ones easily too. I don't think a pair would cause more aggression issues than a single one, cardinals are generally pretty laid-back. How big is your tank, by the way?
I'd say you're pretty much there with stocking, I've got 7 small fish in my 180L tank and it's about right.
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flame9x
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Re: about the cardinals

Post by flame9x »

I've had a few people suggest that a flame angel or a coflake beauty might be a good fit for my tank when I upgrade to 29 gallons. Thing is, they do have a reputation for nipping at clowns.
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zenoxa
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Re: about the cardinals

Post by zenoxa »

Aurorax wrote: Tue Jun 24, 2025 3:37 am I've got Kaudern's Cardinals in my 28gal tank, no issues with them and my clarkii clowns. They're not fans of bright lights or strong currents, tend to stick to the areas with minimal flow and low light. If that's not a problem for your setup, I'd say go for a pair - mine are always together, mirroring each other's movements. They're also pretty easy to breed, and it's great to watch them dance around. You can find captive-bred ones easily too. I don't think a pair would cause more aggression issues than a single one, cardinals are generally pretty laid-back. How big is your tank, by the way?
To be honest, I think the advice given about stocking levels for a 33-gallon tank is a bit off the mark. In my experience, a tank of that size can only sustain so many fish, regardless of their size. I've found that even with a well-maintained tank and efficient equipment, it's still possible to overstock.

As for the fish you're considering, I agree that a pair of Kaudern's Cardinals would be a great addition to your tank. They're beautiful, peaceful fish that can do well in smaller schools. I'd also recommend looking into gobies or Canthigaster puffers - they're interesting to watch and can thrive in a tank of your size. If you're looking for something a bit more unusual, you might consider a small moray eel. Just be aware that they can grow quite quickly, so make sure you're prepared to provide them with a suitable environment.
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