Pair of Banggai Cardinalfish Male Female possible

[homebrewdude]

I would like to add a pair of Banggai Cardinalfish to my tank.

My LFS does not have any.

I will probably order some online.

What are my odds of getting a Male and Female pair?

[jmaneyapanda]

50/50??!! Theres no way to tell. If you have the opportunity, get about six, and watch their behavior. Undoubtedly, you wont get six of the same sex, so they will pair off naturally, and find the other four a good home (sell them to another reefer, your LFS, etc.)

[Triggerfish]

well..you'll either get
2 males
2 females
1 of each
so 33% chance

yeah,,your best chance is what was mentioned above.

[homebrewdude]

That seems expensive.
Maybe I will try 4 of each.

Better odds???

[Triggerfish]

4 of each what..gender?

[homebrewdude]

errrr.
4 small ones.

I will have to see if I can tell which gender.
Then sell 2 after I get 2 that I want.

[Laura D]

I always pair them by putting three or four in together and waiting until two pair up.


It is usually pretty easy to catch the "outsiders" as they tend to try and hang out as far from the pair as they can, usually in an upper corner.

[homebrewdude]

Thats what I am going to try
4 random ones.

Soon as I find a decent price, and someone willing to take the extras

[Triggerfish]

maybe if you find a place that has a decent stock of them you can observe them for a few a week or so and try a few that seem partial to each other..

[homebrewdude]

thats the problem.....
I can't find any local place that has them.

I will have to mail order them

[Triggerfish]

well..ask them to mail you a mated pair...:D

[homebrewdude]

Thanks!

I will try that.

The price of 4 fish is cheaper then a mated pair...

[Triggerfish]

yeah,,but i think you'll be better off with a species known to kill each other off to just getting a known pair outright.
less time wasted, never mind the hassle.