Ochrestriped Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus Compressus)

Species Name : Ostorhinchus Compressus

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Blue, Orange, Red, Tan

Diet : Carnivore

Reef Compatible : Yes

Water Conditions : sg 1.020-1.025, 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4

Max. Size : 4½"

Origin : Indo-West Pacific

Family : Apogonidae

Minimum Tank Size : 55 gallons

Ochrestriped Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus Compressus), commonly called the Blue-Eyed Cardinalfish or Split Banded Cardinalfish, is a marine cardinalfish from the Indo-West Pacific from the family Apogonidae.

Adults are pinkish-white, with six brown stripes along each side, iridescent blue eye rings, and up to four brown spots on the caudal peduncle. The large black and blue eyes are offset by a black spot near the tail which confuses possible predators which way the fish is facing. It grows to a size of 12 cm in length.

Best maintained fish-only aquariums with subdued lighting, yet can also be maintained in reef aquariums, with both having several rocky caves/hiding areas. A 55-gallon or larger aquarium with a cave and peaceful tank mates is suitable for this slow and methodical swimmer. It tends to hide in sea grass or other plants, or may use long spined urchins for camouflage. If a larger aquarium is available, it will handle a small group of this species. As a group, they will establish a strict hierarchy without aggressiveness.

If maintained with moderately aggressive tankmates, will remain in hiding during daylight hours and may not get its fair share of the food when the aquarium is fed. If maintained with peaceful tankmates, will spend a good portion of its time in the aquarium open areas.

The Ochrestriped Cardinalfish requires a well-balanced diet of prepared carnivore foods along with feeder shrimp, flake foods, pellet foods, vitamin-enriched mysis and brine shrimp and depending on its size, live feeder fish. Depending upon the environment in which its maintained, the best time of the day to feed are early morning and evening hours.

Size: Small 1-1/4" to 2"; Medium 2" to 3"; Large 3" to 4"