Flame cardinalfish

Fowleria flammea is a small, cryptic cardinalfish from the Indo-Pacific, where it shelters among rubble, coral crevices and reef caves. Reaching only about 7 cm, it has a reddish, mottled body suited to camouflage rather than open display. It is a shy, nocturnal, peaceful species that emerges after dark to hunt small crustaceans and zooplankton, and it should be housed in a mature reef or nano marine aquarium of at least 75 litres with abundant live rock and dim hiding spots. Keep stable reef conditions: temperature 24 to 27 degrees, pH 8.1 to 8.4, salinity 33 to 35 ppt and carbonate hardness of 8 to 12. Feed meaty foods such as mysis, enriched brine shrimp and finely chopped seafood, ideally near lights-out. It is reef-safe and best kept away from boisterous or aggressive tankmates that would outcompete it for food.