Swallowtail Cardinalfish (Rhabdamia cypselura)
Fish in the family Apogonidae. Moderate care. Reef Safe.
Quick facts
Appearance
Small, slender cardinalfish with a distinctive forked (swallowtail) caudal fin. Coloration is typically reddish or burgundy with darker vertical bands; the tail is deeply forked and elongated, giving the species its common name.
Diet and feeding
Feed small live or frozen foods such as copepods, mysid shrimp, and small frozen preparations. They are planktivores in nature and require frequent small meals to thrive in captivity.
Difficulty and care for the Swallowtail Cardinalfish
Moderate - Requires some experience due to specific dietary water or tank requirements. Best suited for intermediate aquarists.
Common health issues
Marine ich, Fin Rot, Swim Bladder Disorder, Bacterial Infections, Parasitic Infestations
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa through the Indian Ocean to Indonesia and the Philippines.
Log Swallowtail 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 Swallowtail Cardinalfish alongside everything else in your reef.
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