Swollen belly

cody hendrix · Jun 10, 2017

This Cardinal has been in my tank for about a year. It seems very healthy still eating but has a massively swollen belly. I can actually see it's open rectum, or maybe where eggs would come out. There is a pair in the tank.

PS sorry about the cloudy water just did a water change.

cloak · Jun 10, 2017

I don't really have any experience with Bangaii Cardinals, but the fact that you have two of them, they're eating well and one has a swollen belly would lead me to believe that kids are on the way. I may be wrong though. Let's just hope it's not internal parasites or anything like that.

http://www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/spawning-the-banggai-cardinal.htm

GHsaltie · Jun 10, 2017

How long has it had the swollen abdomen? Have you seen it poop recently? If not might try feeding it a deshelled green pea.

melypr1985 · Jun 10, 2017

My first thought would be pregnant myself. But the male will usually keep the eggs in his mouth until they hatch. The female my be gravid and about to transfer eggs over to the male... but I'm really not sure. I've never seen a female get fat like that... usually you just see the male holding the eggs in his mouth and losing weight during that time.

Land^Shark · Aug 22, 2021

Hi, I also have this problem with one of my banggai's. I have six banggai's, this guy was the only male with five other females. The big female had paired up with this guy and was pestering all the other females so we took her out a few days ago. Then I looked at my banggai's and saw that the right side of the male's stomach was swollen. He definitely can't be pregnant, so I'm wondering what this could be? I'd appreciate you guys' help!