Albino Guppy Pregnancy

[magicbegins]

Hello everybody!

I'm new to the world of aquatic forums. Although I've been reading quite a fair bit on forums, I've never actually posted! It was only when I read about guppies and their gravid spots turning black due to the colour of their fry's eyes, did I think about my guppies.

If the colour of the gravid spot is red due to the body of the fry, and black due to eye colour of the fry, does that mean my albino guppy's gravid spot would be red/white instead of red/black?

I'm quite curious because she's been quite fat and pregnant for a while. Dropped 4-5 fry around 3 weeks back but no more after. Sadly, out of her previous birth, I only managed to salvage two. This time round, I'm seeing some white spots in her gravid spot (which is mostly flesh-red).

I have two tanks, one for shrimp (1gallon) and one for my guppies + platys (1.5gallons). Quite a pity I don't have space for a larger tank! I can't fit a breeding net into the tank, but I transferred my pregnant guppy into my shrimp tank for a bit. Hopefully that'll suffice!

Still rather new to the world of livebearers, though I've been keeping my shrimp for a while! Looking forward to learning more from everybody here!

 

[hanny93]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but 1.5 gallon is nowhere near big enough for anything but shrimp, especially guppies and paties which reproduce ridiculously fast.

How many do you have in the 1.5?
It's cycled I'm guessing, if so, for how long?
How long have you had the tank and the fish?

 

[magicbegins]

Hey hanny93,

Yeah 1.5gallons is really small that I admit. But it seemed alright for my 3 platys and 5 guppies (in terms of visual inspection). It's been up and running for close to 4 months now. Placed my guppies and platys in around 2 months ago! Prior to that, it's only inhabitants were fire shrimp and crystal red shrimp with a small otocinclus catfish.

I in fact don't intend to keep the guppies once they mature into adulthood. I understand my tank is way too crowded as it is to accomodate any more. Once they hit 3 months or so (I guess I'll have to watch this visually huh?) I intend to bring it back to my LFS and donate if they accept. If they don't, I'm going to place them in my dad's 20 gallon!

 

[hanny93]

Yes it may seem alright at the moment, but small tanks can stunt growth of fish.

If i were you I'd move them now or as soon as possible, they'll be much happier.
Whilst a fish tank may look okay for stocking it probably wont be unless it's a malawi tank!

Just out of interest:
1)why did you buy guppies if you don't want them?
2)What will you do with the tank?

 

[magicbegins]

Both my tanks were initially intended for shrimp and shrimp only. However, my friend (for various reasons) had to remove his fish tank and wanted to dispose of his fish via toilet flushing. I found that very disturbing and inhumane and so decided to "adopt" them until he found someone who could accomodate the fish long term. Initially I was afraid they might do harm to my shrimp but they seem pretty neat in helping to rid the tank of uneaten food so I decided to keep them.

I understand that the tanks are small but it did seem just nice (ie; no more could be added) for the livebearing fish he gave to me. However, hearing that it might harm the fish is quite unsettling. I'll see if I can convince my dad to take them in. Just a thought then (because they were really a help in getting rid of uneaten food), could we keep guppies/platys solitarily? Or are they communal fish who feel more secure in groups?

At the same time, we drift from my original question. In all, I'm still curious as to the pregnancy of the albino guppy! I'd like to learn more as well.

 

[hanny93]

Ah right I see. Well I suppose they're okay for now as long as you move them soon!

I'm under the impression that both species prefer company but I may be wrong, livebearers aren't my forte!
If you have a serious uneaten food problems, just reduce the amount you feed?
Sorry for dragging you off topic I was just concerned.


In answer to your original question, i should imagine it would be white body/red eyes if they're going to be albino, i didnt really understand what you were describing (i know about gravid spots etc, just couldnt imagine it!)

 

[magicbegins]

It's cool! I feed my shrimp an algae wafer, and it's quite small in itself (1cm x 1cm) but somehow or another it never finishes!

Thanks for the help, I'll see if I can find a solution to the overcrowding!

 

[hanny93]

Just take the wafer out after 6-8 hours or so.


and no problem, i got so much help from the lovely people on here! just wanna give something back

keep us updated on your tanks!