Cardinal laying eggs?

[texhorns98]

So this is in my buddy's tank. The fish has been in there for a year or so without another cardinal. Anyone know what this is and what (if anything) to do about it?

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[jamescook]

that is a female with eggs hanging out. Normally the male fertilizes and catches the eggs up in his mouth in a spawning dance. Maybe the other fish is also a female? I'll swap him a male if that will help.

 

[texhorns98]

So a female will produce eggs even though there is no male in the tank? I should reiterate that this is the only card in the tank.

 

[jamescook]

I am surprised that she would produce eggs w/o a male. The hard thing with the bangs is getting your male fat enough to hold those eggs for a month. most wild caught bangs don't eat well in captivity.

 

[crewdawg1981]

And... isnt it nearly impossible to sex these fish? How would you even identify a male/female in the store?

 

[slinky]

how long does she have eggs hanging out like that?
a few days? or just a few minutes?

 

[jamescook]

I can sex mine at 4 months. the males have 2 thorns and the female 1 near the anal vent. it ain't easy to see, but it's there at certain times

 

[texhorns98]

They've been that way since this morning, I believe. The fish doesn't appear to notice anything...