WOW-cardinal babies

[Norm R]

Really cool, just saw our (unidentified) male cardinal take babies in his mouth from the female. The female had a 1" sack that looked like a bubble gum bubble, she backed up to the male's mouth and he sucked it in. He's now got his mouth wide open but we can't really see anything inside. We've suspected they've had babies in the past but hadn't seen actual evidence. Way cool.

 

[jakano]

thats great, hopefully you can save them before they get eaten. i have no idea how you could catch them with the size of your tank but good luck trying.

 

[Jordan55]

Very cool! Gonna raise them?? Or atleast try?


I always would like to see jawfish do this.

 

[cward]

That's pretty awesome!!! Larry had a some babies in his tank the last time I was over there.
Geo had some in his tank at one time too.
It's really amazing to witness. Good luck Norm, or should I say congratulations...

 

[Lincutis]

Great Norm. Congradulations

 

[Teddy Ballgame]

Take pics if you can!

 

[asnatlas]

Congratz... That would be really cool to see in person...

How many cardinals do you have in your tank ??

 

[Norm R]

These little guys will likely become fish food. I was just stoked to see the transfer happen right in front of us. I have no idea what kind of cardinals these are. I need to look a little harder. They are sort of ugly ducklings but their mannerisms are fun to watch.

How many cardinals in the tank...9 or 10, 5 different types that I can think of.

 

[zeppelin]

Way cool Norm. I ended up saving 3 from my last batch of bangaiis, and the male is carrying eggs again now. Trying to catch him again. Not so easy the second time around. If I can catch him, and the female, I am going to isolate them in one of the prop tanks and see if they will still spawn.

 

[Norm R]

These are actually the cardinals I got from you about a year ago Zeppelin. We were trying to get thread fins and they sent these. They are not lookers, but I like them a lot.

 

[zeppelin]

I remember those. I just put a group of blue eyes in the 300. I think something is picking them off though. Started with 10, and am down to 7.

 

[Briney Dave]

Hey Norm, I plan to breed B.Cardinals for student projects with the kids starting this summer or fall, I have a question for you. How old were the fish when you brought them together. I know that all the Cardinal species will change sex in a mono population but I was wondering at what age they set their gender???

Tropicorim in Mich often has babies hanging around in their big coral tanks, I was going to try to get babies from them but if young adults will change too then I won't waste time with little guys

 

[Norm R]

Hi Dave,

I don't know the age but they were about 1" when I got them. A year later they are about 2.5" with a great deal of girth. Based on that growth, I can't believe they were too terribly old when I got them. With that said, their gender was set at that point. Two males and a female, very easy to distinguish. I'd love to get a 2nd female for the group but have never seen them before so that could be a challenge. I'll post a pic of them as time permits. They are sort of evil looking but are actually the perfect, laid back reef fish.

Freemont huh? I grew up down SR 20 in Monroeville.

 

[Briney Dave]

Norm, sorry to hear about being from Monroeville I hope the whole hill- billy thing has worn off (lol)
I teach in Bellevue so not as bad as Fremont and live out in the country

I am surprised about the gender mix I alway thought that there needed to be sort of a herd thing going with a bunch of females and one or maybe two males allowed in.

How did you tell the genders? are they really dimorphic

 

[Norm R]

Actually Monroeville was a great place to grow up. Not a lot to do in a farming community (except keep aquariums!) but it served me well....

The gender mix wasn't by choice, just what I got. The "pair" are together most of the time with the 2nd male always trying to be included. It makes for interesting interaction, but no aggression at all. The males have brooded before, we've just never seen the transfer from female to male. It was very cool. When the female is close to ready, the males get very dark in coloration and their lower jaw drops and becomes very square rather than angled up towards their mouth. The two males look different than the lone female at all times, always have.

 

[Briney Dave]

great and congrats! I am hoping to get some good broad stock going with the hope of selling offspring as a fund raiser for the school club. A few years ago I was able to take kids to the Keys for a week long class, I have been trying to get back ever since
I am hoping that by spring of next year we can have a mini swap meet, have our own frags, clowns and cardinals all for sale. This is much better than walking around with our hand out looking for donations.

plus the cardnials are just cool looking

your pal
Briney

 

[zeppelin]

Dont want to hijack your thread Norm, but have to add:

I got my male Bangaii out of the 300 today. Mouth full of eggs again.

 

[Norm R]

hi-jack away, this is cool stuff...