The Red Spot Glass Cardinal, Apogon parvulus, also known as the Red-Spot Cardinalfish, has a semi-transparent body with a lustrous color, giving the appearance of glass. Featuring a distinctive large red spot on just before the caudal fin. Their body is also a different shape than the traditional Cardinalfish, being long and slender rather than short and taller.

The Red Spot Glass Cardinal is a slower swimmer, and extremely peaceful in nature, and should be housed with other reef safe, and peaceful tank mates. Because of their timid nature, they are a great choice to house with Seahorses and Pipefish. They can grow to be about 2″ fully mature, and should be kept in a tank with plenty of live rock or plants to offer hiding places, along with pristine water conditions and an excellent water flow. However, due to their extreme dietary and water condition needs, it can be difficult to care for this Cardinalfish, therefor we suggest this fish should be reserved for experienced aquarists only.

Since the Red Spot Glass Cardinal is extremely social, they do best in large groups, but can be kept in small groups or schools of odd numbers, about 7-9 or more. Keeping them in larger groups will also help with their acclimation and success rate. These groups should be kept in a tank no less than 30 gallons. Larger tanks of course, could allow for larger schools, and like many other schooling fish, the Red Spot Glass Cardinal will form a strict hierarchy when kept in small groups within the aquarium. Although some species do use aggression to exert dominance, this member of the family Apogonidae does not.

Red Spot Glass Cardinals are carnivorous, and should be fed a diet of vitamin enriched Brine or Mysis shrimp, along with other finely chopped meaty preparations. When first introduced to the tank, Copepods and Zooplanton should be offered to help ease the acclimation, they will also hang out in the water column to feed. They will thrive in a temperature range of 72 – 75°F and a pH of 8.1-8.4.