I’ve seen Banggai cardinalfish at my local fish store; why are they on the “Keep it Wild” list?
The population of Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) in the wild has declined dramatically due to collection for the marine aquarium trade. In addition, it has been well-documented wild collected specimens have had very low survivability in the recent past. Because of these reasons, RPI believes that it is imperative to make wild-collected Banggai cardinalfish an entry on the “Keep it Wild” list. Commercial captive-breeding of the Banggai cardinalfish is increasing and captive-bred specimens are becoming more widely available at pet stores around the country. Captive-bred specimens make great candidates to “take home” as they are born and bred in captivity. Not only will they typically make hardier pets for your home aquarium, but by purchasing captive-bred specimens, you will contribute to coral reef conservation.
