Sick cardinal, qt tank question

[Fernster]

One of my PJ cardinals, which I've had for 2 years, is sick.
He has not eaten in 2 days and upon examination I noticed that the bottom part of his jaw seems to be swollen. The gills don't look swollen or infected to me. Once in a while he opens his mouth in a gasping sort of way and I can notice that it's filled with some sort of white substance (sort of looks like mysis shrimp).
Does anyone have any ideas as to what this may be? The other fish in the tank show no signs of illness. Should I quarantine this little guy? I don't have and have never used a QT tank. Can I just use a 5 gallon tank with an airstone and a piece of LR?

Thanks..

 

[danch]

um, don't be too quick on the qt - it sounds like he's holding eggs!

Cardinals are mouth brooders, the mail holds the eggs in his mouth until they hatch (or later for some species).

Congratulations, grandpa!

 

[Fernster]

pregnant!!! awesome!!! I don't want the fry to be eaten by the other fish (pigmey angel, yellow goby).. Should I take the pair of cardinal out?

 

[danch]

From what I've seen, he may spit them out if you try to catch him. You might want to check down in the breeding forum - there are a number of threads in there (you may need to do a search) about various cardinal species (mostly Banggai).

 

[ionredline0260]

Sounds like you need to talk with papagimp. shoot him a PM.

 

[Lotus99]

Sounds like he's holding eggs If so, he won't eat until he releases them.