Pyjama Cardinalfish Sphaeramia nematoptera

The colourful Pyjama Cardinalfish, also called the Spotted Cardinal, is native to reefs of the western Pacific, from Indonesia to Australasia.

The pretty fish form schools and camouflage themselves among seagrass, branched coral or rocks in the day, the ornate and disparate patterns breaking up their outlines. As with other big-eyed fish, they are more active at night, preying on small invertebrates.

They grow to 8-9cm long. They are "mouth brooders", meaning the male holds the eggs in his mouth to protect them from predators until the eggs hatch.