Ostorhinchus luteus

Datasheet

General Description

The Yellow Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus luteus) is a peaceful species found in schools around ledges or caves. With a long slender shape and striking orange/red and gold colors, they bring a beautiful diversity to the aquarium.

Aquarium Suitability

The Yellow Cardinalfish is easy to care for and suitable for aquariums of 10 gallons or larger. A setup with a cave and peaceful tank mates is ideal for this slow and methodical swimmer. They may hide in sea grass or use long-spined urchins for camouflage.

Demands

This species is a carnivore that requires a well-balanced diet of meaty foods including feeder shrimp, flake foods, pellet foods, marine flesh, bloodworms, and live feeder fish depending on their size.

Care and Hardiness

With a peaceful temperament, these cardinalfish establish a strict hierarchy within their group without showing aggressiveness. They thrive in well-maintained aquariums.

Reef Suitability

Yellow Cardinalfish are reef-compatible, making them a great addition to a reef tank setup.

Aquarium Setup

To replicate their natural habitat, include hiding spots like caves and sea grass in the aquarium. Maintaining stable water conditions with a temperature of 72-78°F (22-25.5°C), a pH of 8.1-8.4, and a salinity level of 1.020-1.025 is important for their well-being.

Behaviour

Being more active at night, Yellow Cardinalfish are known to exhibit interesting behaviors such as hiding in plants and caves during the day.

Feeding and Diet

Their diet should consist mainly of meaty foods, and they tend to accept a variety of commercially available fish foods suitable for carnivores.

Habitat and Distribution

In the wild, Yellow Cardinalfish are commonly found in the Western Atlantic Ocean. They prefer habitats with ledges or caves where they can form schools.