Interesting Read from Nat Geo

[MDeVito]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/09/wildlife-banggai-cardinalfish-trade-cites-protections/

Something to think about regarding our hobby security, in the end I will always rather see a species in the wild than in a tank.

 

[becks]

Pretty sure they are and have been banned for quite some time, and most you see are captive breed.

Personally I've never see the attraction of them.

 

[Sm51498]

This article seems off on a few things. Captive bred cardinals are available here for less than 20 a piece and there seems to be no shortage. Who is buying the wild caught still?

 

[MDeVito]

Yeah I had no idea there was such a pull from the wild populations which is why I was slightly confused and interested. In my opinion it isn't that popular of a fish.

 

[atoll]

They do little for me just hang around waiting for food all day

 

[MDeVito]

To me they just don't really pop in terms of color and behavior to be chosen for my reef tanks

 

[Ret_Talbot]

Pretty sure they are and have been banned for quite some time, and most you see are captive breed.

Personally I've never see the attraction of them.

The Banggai cardinafish was listed under the Endangered Species Act last year, but it is not banned from import, sale or possession at this time. In 2013, an overseas aquaculture facility began producing the species in quantities that could meet much of the US demand, but wild collection is still occurring.

 

[Ret_Talbot]

Yeah I had no idea there was such a pull from the wild populations which is why I was slightly confused and interested. In my opinion it isn't that popular of a fish.

The Banggai cardinalfish has consistently been one of the most imported marine aquarium fish to the United States, and prior to 2013, most of those imports were from the wild.