Longspine Cardinalfish - Zoramia leptacantha

Longspine Cardinalfish (Zoramia leptacanthus)

The Longspine Cardinalfish, Zoramia leptacanthus, is a delicate and peaceful marine cardinalfish with a translucent body, bright blue eye markings and fine thread-like fin extensions. Also known as the Threadfin Cardinalfish, Bluestreak Cardinalfish or Blue Eye Cardinalfish, this small reef fish is especially attractive when kept in a calm group. It is best suited to a mature marine aquarium with peaceful tank mates, gentle flow, shaded areas and regular feeding with small meaty foods.

Common Name:
Longspine Cardinalfish, Threadfin Cardinalfish, Bluestreak Cardinalfish, Blue Eye Cardinalfish, Threadfin Cardinal.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Zoramia leptacanthus
Often traded as Zoramia leptacantha.

Maximum Size:
Up to around 6 cm.

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa across to the western Pacific, including Micronesia, Samoa, Tonga, the Ryukyu Islands and New Caledonia. In the wild, this species inhabits sheltered bays, reef lagoons and shallow reef areas, often forming groups or dense schools around branching corals, reef structure and calm protected areas.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–27°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Hardness or Salinity: Marine salinity 1.023–1.026 specific gravity; stable, mature marine conditions with good oxygenation are recommended.

Temperament:
Very peaceful and shy. Longspine Cardinalfish are best kept with calm reef-safe fish that will not bully or outcompete them. They are not suitable with aggressive wrasses, large dottybacks, predatory fish or fast-feeding tank mates that may prevent them from feeding properly.

Diet:
Carnivorous micro-predator. Offer small meaty marine foods such as enriched mysis shrimp, brineshrimp, cyclops, copepods, finely chopped krill, fish eggs and high-quality small marine pellets. Feed small portions once or twice daily, and ensure food reaches the group before bolder tank mates consume it.

Minimum Tank Size:
A minimum of 100 litres is recommended for a small group, with larger aquariums preferred for long-term group stability and mixed reef communities. They are best kept in groups of 5 or more where space allows.

Behaviour & Activity:
A calm midwater schooling cardinalfish that often hovers in loose groups near rockwork, branching coral structures or shaded reef areas. It is usually most confident when kept with its own kind. Like many cardinalfish, it may become more active in lower light and can retreat into shelter when startled.

Reef Safe:
Reef Safe
Safe with corals and most ornamental invertebrates. It is a good choice for peaceful reef aquariums, but very tiny ornamental shrimp larvae, copepods and other small planktonic foods may be eaten as part of its natural diet.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Provide a mature aquarium with peaceful tank mates, stable salinity, shaded areas, branching rockwork or coral structure and open hovering space. Avoid aggressive communities and strong direct flow. A secure lid is recommended, as small marine fish can jump when startled. This species is most impressive and settled when maintained as a group rather than as a lone specimen.

Suitable for:
Beginner to intermediate marine fishkeepers

Availability:
Occasional in trade / Marine import

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.