Pearly Cardinalfish

The Pearly Cardinalfish is a subtly beautiful species distinguished by its lustrous, pearlescent sheen that catches the light beautifully as it moves through the water column. Its body displays a warm pinkish-silver base coloration with iridescent highlights that shift between pearl white, pale pink, and subtle lavender depending on the lighting angle. A dark spot or bar is often visible near the caudal peduncle, providing a modest accent to its otherwise delicate appearance.

This species is widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East African coast through the Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific. It inhabits sheltered reef areas, lagoons, and outer reef slopes where it forms loose aggregations near coral heads and rocky overhangs. In the aquarium, it maintains its preference for congregating with conspecifics and is best kept in small groups.

The Pearly Cardinalfish is a nocturnal feeder in the wild but adapts readily to daytime feeding schedules in captivity. It is hardy, peaceful, and undemanding, making it suitable for aquarists of all experience levels. Its gentle nature and moderate size allow it to thrive in community reef aquariums alongside a wide variety of peaceful tankmates.