Pajama Cardinal

Overview

The Pajama Cardinal is one of the most popular and easily recognised cardinalfish, with a rounded body, large red-ringed eye, yellow front half, and a rear half covered in dark spots resembling pyjama fabric. It's a calm, hardy species that adds gentle, hovering movement to a reef tank without the darting activity of many other reef fish.

Like other cardinalfish it's a mouthbrooder, and in a stable, well-fed tank a pair may spawn, with the male carrying fertilised eggs in his mouth for around a week before releasing free-swimming fry.

Its undemanding care requirements, peaceful temperament, and attractive appearance make it one of the most popular beginner-friendly reef fish available.

Compatibility

Pajama Cardinals are entirely peaceful and reef safe, ignoring corals, clams, and invertebrates. They do best with other calm tankmates, since more boisterous or fast-swimming fish can outcompete them for food or stress them with constant activity.

They can be kept in pairs or small groups in a large enough tank, generally showing little aggression toward their own kind compared to many other reef fish.

Health & quarantine

This is a hardy, adaptable species with few chronic health issues, generally acclimating and feeding well without major complications. A standard quarantine period of two to four weeks is recommended good practice, and this species tends to ship and settle in with minimal stress compared to more delicate reef fish.