Are these fish eggs?

[GPHowell]

I noticed this cluster of what look like eggs drifting around the substrate in my reef tank.

The only pair of fish I have are Banggai cardinals... have they mated?

 

[shifty51008]

they are not cardinal eggs, the male cardinal will hold the eggs in his mouth till they hatch and then continue to hold them till they are ready to be on their own.

 

[D-Nak]

they are not cardinal eggs, the male cardinal will hold the eggs in his mouth till they hatch and then continue to hold them till they are ready to be on their own.

While this is true, it could be that the male spit out the mass or never picked them up after the female produced them. The photo does appear to be cardinal eggs IMO.

 

[D-Nak]

Here's a good photo of what Banggai cardinal eggs look like:

And here's a link to where the photo came from:

http://www.mbisite.org/Forums/tm.aspx?m=71389

 

[shifty51008]

Wow thanks for that, it just never crossed my mind that the male would spit them out or never grab them

 

[GPHowell]

Useless male can't be bothered

 

[D-Nak]

The good thing is at IME it takes a little while for the pair to "get it right." Since this sounds like the first time it's happened, I expect the next couple clutches to get better. Soon I expect you to see a male with his mouth full of babies.

 

[GPHowell]

Sounds exciting!