Pajama Cardinal - Sphaeramia nematoptera

I acquired this fish when my neighbor took down his 280 gallon reef tank in October 2007.

This is a nocturnal fish with one of the oddest color patterns.. Mother Nature does have a sense of humor.

This fish is rarely out in open water during the day as it takes shelter under a ledge or among Acropora branches. However it does not hide in the rocks either.

At night or early morning while most fish are still sleeping this nocturnal hunter is out looking for food. I’m not exactly sure what it eats as it will not touch and pellet or flake food I add. It selectively picks at some foods mixed in the homemade frozen mush I feed such as Mysis.

This fish is just under 3 inches long.

Pajama Cardinal hovering above orange montipora coral.

This large Pajama Cardinal is dwarf by the massive size of the orange montipora it likes to hang around.