Is my fish pregnant or sick?

[Serena Alaniz]

We are new fish parents! We bought our fish yesterday. When we got home we noticed ones stomach was blushing. I don’t know if it’s male or female...pregnant or sick?? Just fat?? Sorry for the ignorance. Some help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

I can't tell what sex the fish is because it is holding its anal (bottom) fin against its body. Its tail is also chewed up a bit. If you post another picture with the anal fin standing away from the body, we should be able to tell the sex.

Female livebearers (platies, guppies, swordtails, mollies) have a fan or triangular shaped anal fin. Males have a long thin anal fin called a gonopodium.

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You should monitor the fish and see if it rubs on any objects in the tank. And if it develops a cream, white or grey film on its body then check the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH & GH (general hardness). Post the water quality results here and another picture of the fish if it gets patches on it.

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If the tank is newly set up (less than 2 months old) reduce feeding to a couple of times per week and do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate 4-8 hours after feeding. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to the tank.

You should also do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate any day there is an ammonia or nitrite reading above 0.

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edited to add, the pic of your fish in the other post you did shows the fish to be female and she is pregnant.

watch the black widow (skirt) tetras because they could be taking bites out of the fish's tail.

 

[Serena Alaniz]

Hi and welcome to the forum

I can't tell what sex the fish is because it is holding its anal (bottom) fin against its body. Its tail is also chewed up a bit. If you post another picture with the anal fin standing away from the body, we should be able to tell the sex.

Female livebearers (platies, guppies, swordtails, mollies) have a fan or triangular shaped anal fin. Males have a long thin anal fin called a gonopodium.

------------------------
You should monitor the fish and see if it rubs on any objects in the tank. And if it develops a cream, white or grey film on its body then check the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH & GH (general hardness). Post the water quality results here and another picture of the fish if it gets patches on it.

------------------------
If the tank is newly set up (less than 2 months old) reduce feeding to a couple of times per week and do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate 4-8 hours after feeding. Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it is added to the tank.

You should also do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate any day there is an ammonia or nitrite reading above 0.

------------------------
edited to add, the pic of your fish in the other post you did shows the fish to be female and she is pregnant.

watch the black widow (skirt) tetras because they could be taking bites out of the fish's tail.

Thank you so much for all the info! Sooo is there something I need to be doing to help with pregnancy or prepare for babies??

 

[Colin_T]

Have lots of plants in the tank, especially floating plants for the mother and babies to hide in. Water Sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides/ cornuta) is the best plant for livebearers and floats on the surface but can also be planted in the substrate.

Make sure the fish are fed well.

Try not to chase or disturb her too much and don't lift her out of the water otherwise the stress of being caught and removed from the water can cause her to have a premature labour and give birth to dead young.