Half-Barred Cardinalfish (Apogon thermalis)
Fish in the family Apogonidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe.
Quick facts
Appearance
A small cardinalfish with a deep red-orange body and distinctive dark bars across the head and upper body, giving it the "half-barred" appearance. The fish has a rounded body profile, large eye, and reaches approximately 3.5 inches in adult size. Two dorsal fins and a slightly protruding lower jaw are typical of the Apogonidae family.
Diet and feeding
Feed frozen mysis shrimp, small copepods, and other small crustaceans. This deep-water plankton feeder requires frequent small meals to thrive in captivity.
Difficulty and care for the Half-Barred Cardinalfish
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Common health issues
Starvation if underfed or fed inappropriate pellet-only diet, parasitic infections in transit, popeye from poor water quality
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, specifically found in deeper reef waters from the Philippines to Australia and extending to Papua New Guinea. Occurs in depths typically between 40–200 meters.
Log Half-Barred Cardinalfish in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Half-Barred Cardinalfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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