Description

Also known as Blackfoot Cardinalfish, Nurseryfish.

Found in small schools, during the day sheltering in shallow weedy areas, dispersing at night to forage for food, over protected lagoons and seaward reefs.
They feed on crustaceans, small fish, and zooplankton.
Length - 7cm
Depth - 0-2m
Widespread Western Indian Ocean

Males incubate their eggs inside their mouths, as the egg masses increase in size they can be found with wide open mouths where they shift the eggs around to aerate the egg masses. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Ostorhinchus-nigripes