Glass Cardinal Fish (Zoramia Leptacantha)

NOTE : The Glass Cardinal Fish was formerly known as Apogon Leptacanthus and this name may still be used in some references.

Species Name : Zoramia Leptacantha

Care Level : Easy

Temperament : Peaceful

Color : Clear, Yellow, White

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 : 3 inches

Origin : Western and Eastern Indian Ocean, Northwest, Western Central and Eastern Central Pacific

Family : Apogonidae 

Minimum Tank Size : 15 gallons

The Glass Cardinal (Zoramia Leptacantha) also known as the Threadfin, Longspine, or Slendertail Cardinal is found in large schools on Indo-Pacific reefs. It belongs to the Cardinal family. These fish make great additions to a peaceful aquarium, adapting well to life in captivity. 

The Glass Cardinal fish makes a cheery and colorful addition to almost any aquarium. It has a transparent to whitish body with faint yellow stripes, and its most distinguished feature are the blue stripes through its face which shine under bright light.  Its body and fins are nearly transparent. Males and females are visually identical. It grows up to 3 inches. 

Cardinals are hardy and do not require much swimming space compared to other fish. an aquarium of at least 15 gallons for a single fish and 30 gallons or more for a school is recommended. Extensive rockwork and coral decorations should be provided to enable the fish to retreat from other tankmates. 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.

Since they are very peaceful and social fish, they are best kept in a peaceful reef tank and can even be kept in schools if the tank is large enough. If maintained with moderately aggressive tankmates, such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or aggressive angelfishes, will remain in hiding during daylight hours and may not get its fair share of the food when the aquarium is fed. They will not bother corals or most inverts; some often swim and hover in and around the branches of corals and spines of larger urchins.

As to diet, products such as marine fish and crustacean flesh, clams, and other marine meaty foods should be enriched and finely chopped and fed several times daily. Depending upon the environment in which its maintained, the best time of the day to feed are early morning and evening hours. Avoid flakes, pellets and other dry prepared foods since they won’t provide your fish with enough nutrients even if you do manage to get the fish to eat it.