Male Banggai cardinalfish lay eggs?

[k_kagy]

My male Banggai cardinalfish is carrying a brood in of eggs in his mouth. I have had him for 4 years now and this is the first time I have noticed this. I only have one in my 100g reef housed with 2 true percs, anthias, chromis and a small HTF and a pair of cleaner shrimp. I have no idea how this is possible as I thought the female lays the eggs and the male carries them in his mouth? Any ideas? Here is a pic of the male.

 

[k_kagy]

Pic

 

[k_kagy]

Spoke with my LfS and they had no idea either. He or she is still carrying the eggs. Some have been eaten, but some remain. What makes more sense is probably I have a female and she laid the eggs and is carrying them? It's very unsusal bc this particular guy has killed three previous cardinalfsh a few years back. So, I would think that is more typical of male trait.

Sounds like nobody has any ideas yet?

 

[kizanne]

Spoke with my LfS and they had no idea either. He or she is still carrying the eggs. Some have been eaten, but some remain. What makes more sense is probably I have a female and she laid the eggs and is carrying them? It's very unsusal bc this particular guy has killed three previous cardinalfsh a few years back. So, I would think that is more typical of male trait.

Sounds like nobody has any ideas yet?

Or one of the previous three is simply hiding in your rocks.

 

[k_kagy]

Good thought but definitely not the case considering I moved my tank including all corals, live rock and fish from Texas to Nevada. I definitely only have one. I am pretty sure I just have a female that laid eggs and then didn't know what to do and carried them. She ended up eating them.

 

[Spyderturbo007]

Here is an easy way to determine the sex in case you'd like to get your current female a mate.

https://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/how-to-determine-the-sex-of-banggai-cardinalfish

 

[k_kagy]

Awesome. Yup, definitely a female. Thanks for the link. Will try to find a male.