Fantastic mini-cardinals...

Project Reef · #1 02/10/2005, 04:47 AM

Has anyone here in the states or abroad seen any of these 'mini'-cardinals come in?

AquaticFins · #2 02/10/2005, 08:26 AM

The fish in the bottom three photos look like Apogon dispar, which go by "red-spot cardinalfish" in the trade. The juvi. colour form is transparent with a red horizontal line running along the lateral line and a white spot near the base of the caudal fin. The eye is black with a pair of white horizontals, if my memory serves.

They're quite rare, but are sometimes obtainable if you look long and hard. Collection seems to be seasonal - late spring and early summer are the times to find them. The ones I saw were coming from southern Japan, but I believe their range is pretty large in the wild. They are somewhat delicate deepwater fish, so I'm not sure I'd keep them in a brightly lit reef like the one pictured above. If you've got a LFS that deals with most of the Los Angeles wholesalers, they've probably got a fair shot of getting a hold of a few. They are quite rare.

I'm not sure I'd call them mini-cardinals...they do reach at least two inches in length.

I've never seen the fish in the first two photographs.

EDIT: Just noticed your location - you've probably got the best chance of anyone in the US to get a hold of them. Good luck!

ozadars · #3 02/10/2005, 09:04 AM

I am not sure about their availablity but both should be very hard to find & expensive because Apogon parvulus (the second one) lives only in Japan and Philiphins. I am not sure about the first one but it might be Gymnapogon japonicus which lives in the same area and uncommon. Or can they be new born apogon leptacanthus?

ozadars · #4 02/10/2005, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquaticFins
The fish in the bottom three photos look like Apogon dispar, which go by "red-spot cardinalfish" in the trade. The juvi. colour form is transparent with a red horizontal line running along the lateral line and a white spot near the base of the caudal fin. The eye is black with a pair of white horizontals, if my memory serves.

I doubt they are A. dispar. You can see the difference in the pictures below

A. parvulus

A. dispar

fussoverthis · #5 02/10/2005, 09:20 AM

The ones in the first two photos are beautiful. These look similar to freshwater tetras to me.

Any chance on an ID on the first photos?

Peter Schmiedel · #6 02/10/2005, 10:30 AM

The first on is Bryaninops natans

They are very very tiny and dont ship well.

ozadars · #7 02/10/2005, 02:56 PM

Oh, then they are in the same genus with those gorgeous whip gobies. Thanks Peter.

Gary Majchrzak · #8 02/10/2005, 08:58 PM

PR- are the pics Japanese aquaria?

Project Reef · #9 02/11/2005, 01:42 AM

Yes Gary, they are from a Japanese aquarists tank.

The A. parvulus (redspot cardinal) come from southern Japan so they probably have very easy access. I also believe they come from Indonesia too. Just wish they would show up here.

joetbs · #10 02/11/2005, 12:53 PM

Ali, what about masked gobies instead of the whips? They are readily available, and look pretty similar. Reeftopia.com sells them.

joe

Project Reef · #11 02/11/2005, 06:24 PM

Joe, cool fish. They are very similar however I'm looking for a group that would stay (swim) in the middle of the water colum.

Gary Majchrzak · #12 02/11/2005, 07:11 PM

Thanks for sharing this info, PR.
I've seen many potential schooling Cardinals that rarely enter the trade here in the states. If anyone can hook me up with Apogon parvulus, please PM me.
Link to fishbase info on Apogon parvulus :
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...sname=parvulus

Vim · #13 02/11/2005, 08:02 PM

I've seen them, but i call them bait fish.

Gary Majchrzak · #14 02/11/2005, 08:06 PM

Hobby Experience: newbi

We understand.

joetbs · #15 02/11/2005, 09:18 PM

Ali, they swim

All those coral heads in the carribean with fish floating over them, are those gobies.

joe

tritontr21 · #16 02/11/2005, 10:13 PM

vim wrote

Quote:

I've seen them, but i call them bait fish

LOL yea. if those showed up here in Alabama they would be bought as SHINERS

those would be cool to have as they are small. I love the cardinal tetras schooling in a FW tank.

ChaosReefer · #17 02/12/2005, 12:13 AM

since when were tetras saltwater???

LOLZ!!!

Tunguska · #18 02/14/2005, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ChaosReefer
since when were tetras saltwater???

LOLZ!!!

He implied we wouldn't know the difference

.
By the way, I have a 3 1/2" shiner in my 20 gal FW...

tritontr21 · #19 02/14/2005, 06:37 PM

Tunguska Wrote

Quote:

By the way, I have a 3 1/2" shiner in my 20 gal FW...

See i told ya. my fellow "bama boy" has his own shiner breeder tank!!

Tunguska. you guys up there get to catch all of those spotted bass on the Alabama River dont you?

ROLL TIDE!!

ChaosReefer · #20 02/14/2005, 09:34 PM

I want some of those cardinals, anybody know where i can find a dealer or something, specifically the ones in the 3rd pic down

Project Reef · #21 04/11/2006, 09:27 PM

Well guys here's an update: I finally got hold of a group of seven A. parvulus!

Really cool little guys, apprx 1.25" each.

dvmsn · #22 04/11/2006, 09:38 PM

Definately cool.

dvmsn · #23 04/11/2006, 09:55 PM

Are they in your tank yet and are they eating?

Project Reef · #24 04/12/2006, 04:31 AM

I have 'em in my tank but portioned off so other fish can't get to them. They're eating mysis and frozen cyclopeeze. No flake food yet.

sunfishh · #25 04/12/2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Project Reef
Well guys here's an update: I finally got hold of a group of seven A. parvulus!

Really cool little guys, apprx 1.25" each.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did those rare cardinals cost you? Also, can we see a pick of your new fish.