Red-Stripe Cardinal
Ostorhinchus margaritophorus
| Stock | Variations | Price | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Stock | 2 - 3" - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $29.99.$15.99Current price is: $15.99. | Email me | |
| Out of Stock | 2" or smaller - Indo-Pacific | Original price was: $24.99.$12.99Current price is: $12.99. | Email me |
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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 | 40 gallons |
| Max Size | 3 inches |
| Temperature | 72–78°F |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Specific Gravity | 1.022–1.025 |
The Red-Stripe Cardinal (Ostorhinchus margaritophorus) is a small reef-associated cardinalfish with a pale, pearly body pattern marked by distinct red to brown striping. It’s commonly kept as a “hovering” midwater fish that spends time around rockwork and shaded reef structure, similar to how it’s found near shelter in shallow lagoon and reef areas. Adults stay compact, making it a good fit for mixed reef displays where you want calm, steady movement.
What You’ll Observe:
- Holding position under ledges and overhangs, then drifting into the open water column in short bursts
- Small groups loosely aligning together and facing into the flow in the same general area
- Feeding from the water column with quick, precise snaps at meaty foods
- Occasional mouthbrooding behavior, where a male may hold eggs in his mouth and look “puffed” around the jaw
To help this cardinal settle in, provide multiple caves/overhangs and a few shaded zones so it can choose a preferred hangout. Offer small meaty foods (like finely chopped frozen items) so each fish can feed comfortably in the water column. If you’re keeping more than one, introduce them together and spread shelter areas across the tank so the group naturally distributes.
Do Red-Stripe Cardinals “school,” or do they just group up?
In most home aquariums they tend to loosely group and hover in the same zone rather than form a tight, fast-moving school.
Why does one look like it has a swollen mouth?
Males can mouthbrood eggs, which makes the jawline look distended for several days while he holds the clutch.
Do they need an anemone or urchin to thrive?
They don’t require a host, but they often choose “host-like” cover (branchy structure or tight rockwork) as their preferred shelter.
How do I get them onto pellets?
Start with small frozen foods, then mix in tiny sinking pellets/crumbles in the same spot at feeding time until they recognize it as food.
Is it normal to see them more at dusk?
Yes—many keepers notice increased activity in lower light periods, especially once the fish has picked a regular shelter zone.
Each fish is checked for strong appetite and activity before we approve it for your tank.
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