Small fish with bold black vertical band and a bright red eye.

Pajama cardinalfish

Sphaeramia nematoptera
Where at Shedd?
Wild Reef
Diet Zooplankton, worms, small crustaceans
Size Length: Up to 3 inches (8.5 cm)
Type Fishes
Range Bays and lagoons within the branches of corals in the Eastern Indian and West-Central Pacific Oceans
Habitat Pajama cardinalfish swim in groups that hide among the branches of corals in bays and lagoons

Did you know?

  1. Cardinalfish sport huge red eyes, making it easy to see in the shadowy waters.
  2. Nocturnal fish usually have larger eyes to improve their ability to see at lower light levels.