Compatibility guide

Pajama Cardinalfish tank mates

What fish, coral, and inverts can live with the Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera). Tank mate compatibility broken into good / caution / avoid buckets - tank size minimum: 30 gallons minimum.

✓ Compatible (good tank mates)

These species coexist well with the Pajama Cardinalfish in an appropriately-sized tank.

✓
Other pajama cardinalfish (school of 3-5) - Schools loosely - works in groups
✓
Banggai cardinalfish - Similar temperament + niche
✓
Ocellaris clownfish - Peaceful + different niche
✓
Royal gramma - Different niche
✓
Cleaner shrimp - Will clean pajamas

⚠ Caution (compatible with management)

Workable pairings if the tank is large enough or the introduction is staged correctly.

⚠
Aggressive tangs - May harass slow pajamas at feeding
⚠
Six-line wrasse - Can stress slow-moving pajamas

✕ Avoid (incompatible tank mates)

Don't combine these with the Pajama Cardinalfish. Outcome is usually death of one species or chronic stress.

✕
Lionfish + groupers - Eaten - pajamas are slow
✕
Triggers (aggressive) - Predator
✕
Hawkfish - Bullies pajamas

Stocking notes

Pajama cardinalfish are slow + peaceful. Distinctive appearance: yellow head, black mid-band, polka-dot rear. School loosely in groups of 3-7. Mouthbreed eggs (less prolifically than banggai). Captive-bred specimens are far hardier than wild-caught.

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