banggai cardinalfish got expensive?

Where they are endemic, the call is real and very valid. But yah, they reside outside their 'endemic" zone now in greater numbers.

And not a ban, an Appendix II listing, meaning they would have quotas like stony corals. They are on the ESL/Redlist now though... Pterapogon kauderni (Banggai Cardinalfish)

And if you think $35 is expensive, don't listen to what they were going for in the 90's when they first made their appearance We're talking $1k folks!!!

Boycotting the Wild Banggai Cardinalfish - Microcosm Aquarium Explorer

http://intranet.iucn.org/webfiles/doc/SSC/CoP14/AnalysesEN/cites_prop_19.pdf

Ret Talbot Live: Does LINI Support a Wild-Caught Banggai Cardinalfish Boycott?

http://www.3reef.com/forums/tropical-fish/banggai-cardinal-threatened-species-42644.html

Ret Talbot Live: Banggai Cardinal Fish Threatened with Extinction?

 

......and all hey do is hover. They don't move. They are boring. I have never understood the fascination. With that said, I don't understand clownfish either for similar reasons. I guess the advantage with cardinals is they don't attack you while you're working on your tank.