Description

Also know as Flagfin Cardinal, Flagfin Cardinalfish, Frostfin Cardinal, Nurseryfish.

Found in small schools, during the day sheltering in the arms of feather stars, Diadema Sea Urchins, and around sponges, over soft-bottoms of sheltered bays and estuaries, dispersing at night to feed on bottom dwelling critters.
They feed on crustaceans, small fish, and zooplankton.
Length - 5cm
Depth - 2-30m
Widespread Indo-West 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/8588