Banggai Pregnant?

I purchased a pair of Banggai Cardinals back in November of last year. They've been the model community fish. About 3 months ago, I noticed one becoming pronouncedly larger than the other. Two days ago I realized they had been hiding behind the LR. They had become so scarce, I was concerned that they might have both jumped out of the tank; although the carpet was clean.

Today I noticed that the larger one's jawline had drastically changed shape. Where the profile once was the normal picture, coming somewhat to a point at the mouth; it became squared off at the bottom.

I had read about this. I recalled reading that the male is the mouth brooder, and won't eat during the time he carries eggs in his mouth. Well, the last test was to feed them. The smaller individual eats as usual, and the larger one eyes the food, even follows it as though he's going to strike, but falls short of opening his mouth. He's not eating.

I think I have a pregnant fish here!

Can anyone say about how long until the eggs become so large that they're visible when the fish breathes? How long until they hatch/are expelled? I know that I shouldn't expect to see any offspring live through to adulthood, but I'm going to try the artificial urchin I've seen some use for the fry to seek refuge from hungry mouths in the tank.

 

Well reef sparky the female isint pregnant' it's most likely full of eggs , soon the pair will
choose a little corner of the tank ( if they havint already ) she will lay the eggs' then the male will move right in behind her and fertilize the eggs.
this will happen sevral times as long as the female is laying them , this will happen probaaly in in just a few hours or so.
then they will gaurd the nest site.
Hopefully you'll be able to see where thier at.

( DO NOT disturb them as they may stress out so badly , causeing the female to consume the eggs. )

meaning= the adults that are nesting may feel that their nest is so threatened that they will give up and move on , only to try again in another spot in the tank .

 

Actually the male carries the eggs in its mouth(mouth brooder) until they hatch.

 

sounds like you're going have to some babies, but more then likely they will be consumed by the tank.

 

Cool Sparky! now you can add a nursery to your tank...lol

 

Ahh so the male will pick up the eggs and take them into the mough after they have been fertilized much like some cichlids.

Thank you geek for correcting me. I was half right....lol.

 

Thanks, Geek!

 

I'm thinking something maybe blue?? ;D

 

I'm waiting for visual confirmation, even though I'm pretty sure we're pregnant. Each day the Banggai's mouth is open just a little more. I think it's so stuffed, he can't keep it closed! I'm waiting to look in there and see little eyes looking out!

 

As Geek said They are mouth brooders and if you have lots of rock shelfs with tiny crevices Like I use then they will go into hiding had several breeding pairs over the yrs still have a few in the overflows . They look just like adults just way smaller . You will notice the males lower Jaw will droop and look lower at the joint and he will look like a kid who just got busted with a stolen cookie in his mouth and trying to no chew or look different Look up i rock cracks with a light or make a breeding ball/fake urchin for them to hide in.