Description

Also known as Black-banded Cardinal, Black-banded Cardinalfish, Chubby Cardinalfish, Cook's Soldierfish, Multi-lined Cardinalfish, Nurseryfish, Shortstripe Cardinalfish.

Found singly, or in small schools, during the day, sheltering in shallow waters, under ledges, and around rocky areas of the reef, dispersing at night, foraging for food, over coral and rocky reefs.
They feed on benthic crustaceans and fish eggs.
Length - 10cm
Depth - 1-10m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

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/9240