Ostorhinchus cookii
| Latin name | Ostorhinchus cookii - (Macleay, 1881) |
|---|---|
| Local name | Cooks cardinalfish |
| Family | Apogonidae - Ostorhinchus |
| Origin | East Indian Ocean, West Indian Ocean, Australia, Japan, The Red Sea, Indonesia, East Pacific, New Zealand, Central/West Pacific |
| Max length | 10 cm (3.9") |
| Minimum volume |
150 l (40 gal) 
|
|---|---|
| Hardiness |
Hardy
|
| Suitable for aquarium |
Suitable for most aquarium
|
| Reef safe |
Always reef safe
|
| Aggressiveness | Peaceful |
| Recommended |
Small crustaceans (Krill, mysis, artemia...) Zooplankton (Cyclops, pods...) |
|---|---|
| Maybee |
Fish Larger crustaceans (Shrimp, crabs...) |
This spicies might be a threat to smaller fishes.
This species poses a threat towards shrimps and crabs etc., which are relatively small.
This species needs good hiding places, for example, between live rocks.
This species is nocturnal and therefore the most active when the light is dimmed or turned off.
Species are sometimes reclassified. This species was formerly classified as a member of the Apogon genus.
Cardinalfish come in many different shapes and colours, generally they are well suited for aquaria.
Cardinalfish have a large mouth and a big appetite, take this into account with feeding the other fish. These fish typically live off of Artemia, Mysis and krill. In the aquarium they will eat anything they can.
They will sometimes eat small shrimps and fish, so do be aware of this, but it is not normally a problem.
It is possible to keep several species together, if space allows. Some species will form small shoals. They are normally peaceful towards other fish, but will sometimes fight among themselves if there isn't sufficient space or food.
Many species are nocturnal and will therefore often seek a hiding place during the day. This can be between stones, SPS corals and, in some cases, in an anemone and between spines of Sea urchins.
Cardinalfish are a good choice if ones wishes to attempt to start a breeding tank.
| Distribution | Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and the Gulf of Oman south to Natal and east to the western Pacific where it ranges from Japan to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Recently reported from Tonga (Ref. 53797). |
|---|---|
| English common names |
Cook's cardinalfish Cook's soldierfish Multilined cardinalfish |
Scott W. Michael. 2001. Basslets, Dottybacks & Hawkfishes: v. 2 (Reef Fishes) - TFH Publications / Microcosm Ltd. - (English)
Bob Fenner. Cardinalfishes, Family Apogonidae, Pt. 1, Pt. 2 - Wet Web Media - (English)