Loading...
ORA

ORA Pajama Cardinal

In stock
Out of stock
SKU
255362
$29.99 $29.99

- +

Caring for the animals and ensuring they arrive healthy is our top priority. Therefore, we only ship live animals via UPS Next Day Air on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday.* This minimizes the possibility the animals will be sitting in a shipping carrier distribution center over a weekend. Shipping centers can have varying temperatures that can put an animal's health at risk so we want to minimize their time there. We will ship the following week if you place an order on a weekend.

We also monitor for extreme temperatures across the country before we ship animals. If you live in a part of the country experiencing extreme heat or cold temperatures, we will work with you to ensure we avoid shipping on days that have a high chance of putting your new animal's health at risk.

As we get your animals ready for their journey to you, we will send you emails so you can track them along the way. Please have a plan to be home upon their arrival and to acclimate them as soon as they arrive so they are ready to thrive in their new environment.

This item ships directly from ORA. Livestock orders over $179.99 ship FREE!

 

Quick Stats

  • Care Level: Easy
  • Diet: Carnivore
  • Temperament: Peaceful
  • Reef-Safe: Yes
  • Source: Captive Bred
  • Approximate Purchase Size: 1.25-1.5"
  • Approximate Max Size: 3"
  • Recommended Tank Size: 20 Gallons or Larger

 

Overview

This fish is shipped directly to you with exceptional care and high-grade packaging specifically made for live animals from our partner, ORA. This animal is certified by the Mr. Chili Sustainability Alliance, meaning it is sustainably bred, was raised with exceptional husbandry practices, and 2% of net proceeds will be donated to support Ocean Conservation.

The Pajama Cardinal (Sphaeramia nematoptera) is one of the most popular marine aquarium fish, not to be confused with the similar but less-attractive Orbic Cardinal (Sphaeramia orbicularis). ORA is the first hatchery to successfully commercially breed this colorful Cardinal.

As with most cardinals, they are generally docile in aquariums and should not be housed with overly aggressive tankmates. They are a great fish for reef tanks and swim freely in full view. They will eat a variety of aquarium foods including frozen foods and pellets.

Note: Image is a representation of what to expect. The fish you receive may vary slightly in appearance.

 

Aquarium Requirements

Aquarium Size

More space is always beneficial, but a minimum tank size of 20 gallons is recommended for the Pajama Cardinal. A larger tank offers more stability in water parameters, which is beneficial for all inhabitants.

Habitat Recommendations

Pajama Cardinals are quite adaptable but thrive best in an environment that mimics their natural habitat. Here’s how to set up their ideal home:

  • Aquascaping: Although Pajama Cardinals often spend most of their time out in the water column, it is still important to incorporate live rock formations to create hiding spots.
  • Substrate: This fish has no specific substrate requirements and can be kept in aquariums using sand of various grain sizes, crushed coral, or no substrate at all.

Water Parameters

Maintaining proper water parameters is crucial for the health and well-being of your fish. While Pajama Cardinals are considered relatively hardy, providing a stable environment will allow them to thrive and stay healthy.

  • Temperature: Keep the water temperature between 75-78°F. Stability is key, so use a reliable heater that can limit any temperature swings to about +/- 1°F or less.
  • pH Level: This fish will do well in a wide pH range from about 7.7 to 8.5.
  • Salinity: The specific gravity should be between 1.020-1.026 (27-35ppt). Use a refractometer to monitor salinity levels accurately.
  • Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate: Ammonia and nitrite levels should be undetectable, while nitrate levels should be kept below 20 ppm. Regular water changes and proper filtration will help to achieve this.
  • Water Flow: Moderate water movement is ideal. This is most often achieved by using powerheads in the aquarium to move water around. Adequate water flow helps push uneaten food and fish waste into your filtration and also keeps the water oxygenated.

Diet

Pajama Cardinals are Carnivores, meaning they rely on meaty foods for their nutrition. This fish isn't typically a picky eater and will accept food in a variety of forms. 

Primary Diet

  • Frozen Food: They are small plankton feeders so foods such as brine shrimp, krill and mysid shrimp are perfect.
  • Pellet Food: High-Quality pellets are a great option. Cardinals prefer to feed in the water column, rather than at the water surface, so neutrally buoyant or slow sinking pellets work best. Pellet foods are typically very nutrient dense, so care should be taken to avoid overfeeding the aquarium, which can contribute to poor water quality.
  • Flake Food: Flake food isn't as popular of a choice among saltwater aquarists, but if you opt for a flake food, be sure to choose a marine-specific option that's formulated to meet the needs of saltwater fish.

Feeding Frequency

Feed your Pajama Cardinal at least once a day. For optimal health, try to offer small, frequent meals throughout the day-- 2-3 times is ideal if you can manage it. Your fish will probably always look hungry, so it can be hard to stop yourself from adding more food to the tank.

Compatibility

When it comes to tank mates, the Pajama Cardinal is considered peaceful and should be kept with other peaceful tankmates.

Common Tank Mates

Here are some ideal tank mates:

  • Fish: Clownfish, Blennies, Gobies, most Wrasse, Tangs, Dwarf Angelfish, and other peaceful fish.
  • Invertebrates: Cardinals won't bother most invertebrates, so Cleaner Shrimp, Hermit Crabs, Snails, Urchins, and more are all safe to keep.
  • Coral: The Pajama Cardinal is considered Reef Safe and can be kept with Soft, LPS, or SPS coral.

Behavioral Notes

  • Group Behavior: The Pajama Cardinal can be kept in pairs or groups. If you'd like to keep multiple, it's a good idea to add them all at the same time.

Acclimation Process

Acclimation instructions are included in each box, but if you misplaced yours or want to know what to expect ahead of time, you can always find an extra copy here: Fish Acclimation Instructions

ORA Live Goods Shipping

We use high quality, special packaging to send your animals to you to ensure they are as comfortable as possible. Shipping is FREE when you spend $179.99 or more on live animals. Live animal orders totaling less than $179.99 will incur a special handling fee of $39.99 to cover the cost of overnight shipping and the packaging materials.

 

Live Animals are shipped Monday-Thursday*

Orders placed before 11AM EST will ship the same day.

Orders placed Thursday after 11AM EST will ship the following Monday.

Live animals are shipped via UPS Next Day Air.

Note: Live animals can only be shipped to the contiguous United States at this time.

In the Event Your Animal Doesn't Make the Trip

As the animals that you ordered from us are Mr. Chili Certified, you can have confidence that every effort has been taken to ensure they arrive alive, however despite our best care, sometimes the animals don’t make the journey. In the unfortunate event that your animals do not arrive alive, please contact us immediately (within 12 hours) of delivery and send a photo to us directly: customercare@bulkreefsupply.com. We will either reimburse you for the animal that did not make the trip or work with you on receiving another one.

 

Full details on our Live Animals Shipping & DOA Policy can be found on the Livestock Shipping Policy page.

More Information
SKU 255362
Aquarium Type Saltwater
Species Sphaeramia nematoptera
Origin Indo-Pacific: Java to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef
Care Level Easy
Temperature Tropical (77–82°F)
Min. Tank Size 20 Gallons
Temperament Peaceful
Beginner Friendly Yes
Reef Safe Yes
Write Your Own Review
You're reviewing:ORA Pajama Cardinal
Your Rating
Only registered users can write reviews. Please or

Product Questions

No questions yet. Be the first to ask the question!