Reef fish
Banggai cardinalfish
Pterapogon kauderni
A striking black-and-silver striped cardinalfish that shelters among long-spined sea urchins, with males mouth-brooding the eggs and young. Endemic to Indonesia's Banggai Islands, it has established introduced populations in the Lembeh Strait. Listed as endangered largely due to the aquarium trade.
- Max size
- ~8cm
- Habitat
- Shelter among sea urchins and anemones
Best places to dive with Banggai cardinalfish
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Not native here. Banggai cardinalfish are endemic to the Banggai Islands in Central Sulawesi; the Ambon Bay population comes from juveniles released by Indonesia's Ambon Mariculture Centre between 2014 and 2017, including roughly 10,000 individuals in 2017. Monitoring in April 2018 found them at three of five survey locations, at densities of about 41 and 73 fish per 100m² at the ferry port and behind Pattimura University. Easy to find, but an introduced population rather than a natural one.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Found year-round in urchin clusters at several muck sites; the Lembeh population is introduced rather than native.
Sources & last checked
Checked July 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.