Blue Eye Cardinal
Ostorhinchus compressus
Original price was: $49.99.$25.99Current price is: $25.99.
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Stock | 2" or smaller - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $49.99.$25.99Current price is: $25.99. |
-
+
|
|
| Out of Stock | 2 - 3" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $53.99.$28.99Current price is: $28.99. | Email me |
Every order ships with our standard 3-hour live arrival guarantee. Need more time? Add our 5-Day Guarantee at checkout.
Full guarantee terms →Ships Monday – Thursday for next-day arrival at your nearest FedEx Hold location — typically ready by 9 AM. We monitor every delivery.
Shipping details →
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 9 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 4 PM
Sunday 12 PM – 9 PM
Healthy, stable animals from vetted suppliers — inspected before packing, shipped overnight. Decades of experience built this model so we can deliver premium livestock at 30%+ less than you'd pay elsewhere.
| Care Level | Easy |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Functional Benefit | Ornamental Only |
| Diet Type | Carnivore |
| Mininum Tank Size | 55 gallons |
| Max Size | 5 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Blue Eye Cardinal (Ostorhinchus compressus), also seen as the Ochrestriped Cardinalfish, is a reef-friendly cardinalfish with a pale body, thin ochre-brown striping, and a noticeable blue ring around the eye. It’s an Indo-Pacific species that fits naturally into peaceful reef aquarium community stocking.
What You’ll Observe:
- Spending much of the day hovering close to rockwork, branching corals, or overhangs
- Settling into a favorite “resting spot,” then making short, calm swims into the open
- More visible activity in the evening hours and at feeding time
- Taking small meaty foods from the water column with quick, accurate bites
- In groups, fish often hold position together rather than constantly schooling
Provide plenty of caves and shaded ledges so your Blue Eye Cardinal can choose a comfortable hangout. Offer a variety of small meaty foods (frozen and prepared) on a consistent schedule, and you’ll typically see steady, relaxed behavior as it establishes a routine.
Why does my Blue Eye Cardinal disappear when the lights first come on?
It’s common for cardinalfish to “tuck in” at the start of the photoperiod, then ease back out once the tank settles into its daytime rhythm.
Do Blue Eye Cardinals stay out under bright reef lighting?
Many do once established, especially when they have shaded ledges or branching structures to hover near, so they feel covered even in high-light displays.
Can I keep more than one Blue Eye Cardinal in the same tank?
Yes—many hobbyists have the best luck adding multiples at the same time so territories form more evenly as the fish settle in.
What does it mean if one looks like it’s holding something in its mouth and skips food?
Cardinalfish are known for mouthbrooding; a male may hold eggs in his mouth for a period of time and act less interested in eating during that window.
Will a Blue Eye Cardinal bother ornamental shrimp?
Most of the time they coexist well, but very small shrimp can sometimes be treated like bite-sized prey—keeping shrimp well-fed and giving them rockwork to retreat into helps.
We work with trusted suppliers who keep our specimens healthy and well-fed before shipping.
Recently viewed products
