Seale's Cardinalfish

Seale's Cardinalfish is an attractive and hardy species distinguished by its bold barred pattern consisting of alternating dark and light vertical bands across a compressed body. This patterning provides effective camouflage among branching corals and rocky crevices in its native Western Pacific reef habitats. While not as well-known as some of its more famous relatives, this species makes an excellent aquarium resident thanks to its manageable size, peaceful nature, and ease of care.

In its natural habitat, Seale's Cardinalfish is found in sheltered coastal reefs, lagoons, and seagrass beds where it forms small aggregations among coral rubble and branching coral colonies. Like other cardinalfish, it is primarily nocturnal, sheltering among the reef structure during daylight and emerging at dusk to feed on small planktonic crustaceans and other invertebrates. This species is relatively common throughout its range and is not subject to the conservation concerns that affect some other cardinalfish species.

In the aquarium, Seale's Cardinalfish is a model citizen. It is completely reef-safe, ignoring corals and invertebrates entirely, and its peaceful temperament means it rarely causes problems with tankmates. It adapts readily to captive conditions and quickly learns to accept a variety of prepared foods. At a maximum size of about three inches, it is well-suited to smaller aquariums and makes an excellent addition to community nano reef setups.