WE HAVE A BABY!!

Aquavol · Oct 23, 2023

My cardinals had a baby. Only been reefing for a few years, but this has never happened before. Anything special I should do?

Aquavol · Oct 23, 2023

It’s so small. I feel like I should quarantine it.

DaJMasta · Oct 23, 2023

If you can catch it, it will do better in a lower flow area. Feed live food if available, otherwise it may take small frozen (or the fines of large) or very small pellets, but in my experience that's the least accepted early on.

A hatch is usually a bunch, so there could be others in lower flow areas.

TheSharksDen · Oct 23, 2023

That’s so cool! Were you trying or did it just happen!?

PeterEde · Oct 23, 2023

"A" baby. Where's the rest

Aquavol · Oct 23, 2023

Just happened. Noticed it when I got home today.

I’ve been looking elsewhere, and in the sump, and don’t see any others.

Aquavol · Oct 23, 2023

Aquavol · Oct 23, 2023

Caught the little guy and put him in a nursery tank.

AydenLincoln · Oct 23, 2023

OMG! HE’S SO CUTE AND LITTLE!

DaJMasta · Oct 23, 2023

It's fully formed and has the swim bladder, so it should be able to eat almost as regularly as you can feed it. Especially if trying to find new foods, I'd aim for 2-4 feedings per day - it may be possible that it does alright with just one, especially if there are copepods around in the tank, but more food available will mean faster growth and likely better survival chances, and they have mouths like their parents, so they can get bigger morsels in there than you would expect (and will try.)

Aquavol · Oct 24, 2023

DaJMasta said:
It's fully formed and has the swim bladder, so it should be able to eat almost as regularly as you can feed it. Especially if trying to find new foods, I'd aim for 2-4 feedings per day - it may be possible that it does alright with just one, especially if there are copepods around in the tank, but more food available will mean faster growth and likely better survival chances, and they have mouths like their parents, so they can get bigger morsels in there than you would expect (and will try.)

It’s still alive. Ate well this morning.

OrchidMiss · Oct 24, 2023

That's so exciting!!

PeterEde · Oct 24, 2023

The male carries the eggs in his mouth for 3-4 weeks without eating. He can often be seen moving the eggs around in his mouth. Bangaii cardinalfish fry are relatively large when they are released and can be fed newly hatched brine shrimp right from the start.