Cardinal Problems

[BrianNY]

So much has appeared on this thread about touble with cardinals. I've given up in frustration. I wonder if anyone can confirm or deny some of the bits of info I've heard?

All cardinals we see in our lfs are brought in from the wild. The life span isn't much greater than 1 year, so we've no idea how old the fish is when we buy it.

Hers's the one that got me. Cardinals emit a chemical to which is specific to them . It is meant to attract fish from their school while repelling fish from others. If cards from different schools are mixed, they can end up poisoning each other.

 

[ScottS]

I've not heard of this (chemical emission). I have three small batches from two stores, and they all hang out together.

While they are all wild caught, they can live longer in captivity under good conditions. I've read elsewhere they can live for a couple years.

I thought I got it right when my first 10 all survived, for a month now. But then if you see my other thread, I lost 3 of the 4 I picked up yesterday. #4 ate today and is swimming with the pack, so that's good.

They're certainly beautiful, so don't give up!

 

[shawmutt]

Yes, cardinals emit a chemical when startled that makes them school tighter together. However, I've never read about poisoning from this chemical. A more likely issue is that the chemical is released, and because of the small tank area that chemical stays in the water. As long as the chemical is in the water, the school will sense danger, and remain stressed--and we all know what stress does to fish. Because of the sensitive nature of these fish, I would not recommend a tank smaller than 30 gallons for a school of cardinals. A lot can be done with a thirty gallon--at the prime of my 30 gallon I had all the fish listed below in my 10 gallon with a school of 9 cardinals

I would assume that the lifespan is a bit longer than a year. A case of ich wiped out my school (they are very susceptable to aquarium diseases), but one survived, and I have had him for almost a year now. If you keep them alive longer than a few months you are doing something right.

As far as losing the cardinals, I lost three very soon after purchase, but then I switched to r/o water and didn't lose any until the ich. They fare well in a dark tank with plenty of hiding spaces (check my tank in my gallery). The water should be slightly acidic. A word about acidity. The ONLY success I've had with keeping water acidic is starting with r/o water and adding Electro-Right (directions are on the back for a discus tank). IMO, if you want to keep these fish happy, pick up a book on discus and try to emulate this delicate fish's environment.

Tank raised cardinals can be found, and are hardier than the wild caught fish, but the extra cost involved doesn't make it worthwhile.

 

[BrianNY]

So what you're saying is if I can keep discus, I can keep cardinals?

 

[TankGirl]

So what you're saying is if I can keep discus, I can keep cardinals?

You betcha! And we know you can keep discus!

 

[shawmutt]

lmao, should have checked your gallery! Nice discus! Are you having trouble with cardinals in your discus tank?

 

[BrianNY]

LOL, I like your sense of humor. I had intended to keep cardinals, but I've lost so many of them...........well .

So now the 125 has a school of 20 black neons. Not as colorful but larger than cards and they'll serve the same purpose.

Brian

 

[yhbae]

I'm waiting for my LFS to bring in some Candinals. They are supposed to alternate between cardinals and neons every other week, but I haven't seen any cardinals for a while now... They always have the special, at 10 for $12CA which is really cheap considering how much more we have to pay for just about everything else...

I'm gonna see if I can get them to breed, but from what I have learned so far, this isn't one of the easiest fishes to breed and raise...

 

[BrianNY]

Breeding them would be quite rewarding, and quite a challenge. Shawmutt may have hit on something when he mentioned the larger tank. Could be because of their body chemistry, they need a very large space to bring them into condition.

Just a thought.

 

[Allivymar]

Saw something unusual (for me anyway) at a lfs today. Green cardinals (Paracheirodon simulans). Instead of the blue line under the dorsal, it was a lovely pale green. Didn't look dyed/injected either. So I did a little research when I got home (and am kicking myself for not getting them; saw them in a lfs in NJ 3 hours away...aauuggghh!). I would LOVE to try them as a substitute; I wonder if they are healthier then the cards or regular neons as I'm guessing they're no where as inbred. Time to go ask the lfs to do some shopping for me *grin*