Are cardinals worth it

[huso]

I want 3 cardinals in my tank but my whole household is against them because "they look like freshwater fish". What are your thoughts about them and what other fish can I replace the cardinals with.

 

[ToxicPaly]

I think Banggai cardinalfish look great.

If it’s your aquarium go with what you like.

 

[exnisstech]

I've never kept one because I don't really care for any I've seen which are pajama and bengai. I find them boring and the twitching jerky way they swim i find annoying. JMO

 

[TeeSquared1214]

If it’s your tank, do what makes you happy. If it’s the “family” tank, well…who cleans it or maintains it the most? Likely you. Do what makes you happy. Odds are, regardless of the fish, they will grow to love it.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I have 2. They’re interesting in a motionless type of way :)

 

[Idech]

I had a banggai and loved it. Now I have 3 pajamas and I like them too. I think they are pretty fish, hardy, not aggressive and easy to keep. What’s not to like ?

Oh, and I don’t think they look like freshwater fish at all (I had fresh water tanks for 30 years).

 

[jhadaway]

I have a pajama and a banggai. They are kinda boring but the banggai is a neat looking fish. The pajama is pretty strange looking. All of the cardinals are odd because of those huge eyes. Im sorry i didn't buy 3 or 4.

 

[Brian Ardolino]

In my opinion if you have a lot of colorful corals. black and white fish in general are a really nice contrast. My old 65 gallon was all black fish. Darwin clowns, marine beta, engineer gobie, scopas tang, stary blenny. It looked awesome. Cardinals were going to be next, but I shut that tank down when I moved and set up a 120.

 

[LiquidSpace]

I always thought they looked like freshwater fish too. They reminded me of tetras and tiger barbs. I never understood the hype around them for that reason, as someone who did freshwater growing up. I did get Blue Eyed Cardinals though. They’re pretty cool but definitely look like a tetra.

 

[rishma]

I’ve had several types of cardinals and agree with the comment about looking like freshwater fish, which doesn’t bother me at all. They are not a centerpiece fish but can be a striking part of the overall composition. I like that you can get a mall group of some that school together.

I am currently hunting a QT pair of bengaii or I might just QT them myself. I once raised 40 babies.

I find pajamas kinda boring.

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

Every non-reefer that has come to the house and viewed my tank has really liked the Banggai Cardinal.

I think it stands out more in a tank of colorful corals. Fairly boring in a fish-only tank.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I'm with @exnisstech ("Grumpy old man"). Two-thumbs down, for the same reasons.

 

[JayM]

I agree with your family. Not a fan.

That said, buy what you like. It’s your tank.

 

[kingranch2003]

It's fun to watch them hunt pods at night and I do agree that they look good as a contrast to colorful fish and corals. If you have a big tank, you'd probably like that they suspend and swim a bit differently than most fish. But if you have a smaller tank, just ask yourself if thats a centerpiece fish for you or not.

 

[VintageReefer]

Mines boring. Hides all day in the shadows under a ledge.

Started with 3 and after a year one became dominant and started chasing the others. Then 2 of them started eating acans and some lps. Then the 2 larger ones faught and injured each other’s eyes. I lost them both despite medicating in a hospital tank.

I’m done to one. He hides all the time. And when I’m not around i am highly suspicious he nips at acans and blastos.

I would vote for a pass on these fish

 

[atoll]

I have recently introduced a total of 8 blue-eye cardinals. Given they are shoaling fish then IMO they need to be in a group of at least 5 but the more the better.
Unfortunately one has sustained damage by one or more of my fish. Neither my blue damsels nor flame-back angels don't seem to be bothering them so perhaps it ventured to close to my Magnifica nem and my female clown had a go at it. Hopefully it will make a full recovery.

 

[MC Blowfish]

You should buy what you would like if it's your tank.


I've never been a big fan of them, but that's just my opinion.