Thirty years ago, almost no one had heard of the Banggai cardinalfish. This elegant species, with its white spots that seem to glow against its curving black fins, was only found in isolated pockets scattered throughout Indonesia’s Banggai archipelago. In 1994, prominent ichthyologist Gerry Allen happened across it on an expedition in Indonesia, and made the fateful decision to introduce it to the United States.The fish’s graceful form and striking pattern quickly attracted the attention of hobby aquarists. “The fish became popular in the aquarium trade overnight,” says , director of...…Thirty years ago, almost no one had heard of the Banggai cardinalfish. This elegant species, with its white spots that seem to glow against its curving black fins, was only found in isolated pockets scattered throughout Indonesia’s Banggai archipelago. In 1994, prominent ichthyologist Gerry Allen happened across it on an expedition in Indonesia, and made the fateful decision to introduce it to the United States.The fish’s graceful form and striking pattern quickly attracted the attention of hobby aquarists. “The fish became popular in the aquarium trade overnight,” says , director of...WW…