Hello all,
I'm new to these boards but hope someone can help me. I have bred livebearers in the past (mostly swordtails), buy my female guppy is truly baffling me. I can't tell if she just put on a lot of weight, is sick or is pregnant!
I got her about 8 weeks ago, and placed her in a tank with one male guppy a few female guppies and a few mollies. My male guppy took a "shine" to her right away, so it was no shock when about 3 weeks later I thought I noticed her gravid spot becoming darker.
About two weeks after I first noticed her gravid spot, she began to put on weight rather rapidly. She grew a little in length but for the most part the weight was in her belly area. After watching her for a few days I decided she was pregnant and moved her and the male into a 5 gallon well planted "birthing tank". I used the male because the two of them had seemed to partner up and exclude the other fish, although now I'm thinking using another female might have been better. During the first several days I kept a really close eye on their behavior, and although they kept pretty tight, the male did not try to breed with her once. I assumed that he must realize she is not fertile, since generally he never stops harassing the females.
Over the next week or so her belly grew larger, and I thought her gravid spot grew a little larger/darker, but she was acting hyper so I figured she wasn't ready yet. Toward the end of that week I saw that my male began to obsessively try to mate with her again, although she kept rejecting him, and I also noticed that she seemed to be excreting more waste than usual.
During this past week I have caught her hiding out in the plants on one or two occassions, but she remains hyper. A few times I thought I saw the "corners" that people refer to on the back of her belly right below her gravid spot, but when I'd check a few hours later they were gone. I was never able to catch a glimpse of the fry moving inside her like I have for other fish in the past, but I'm not sure if that is because she doesn't really stop moving long enough for me to look. For the last two days she still looks "heavy" but her gravid spot looks a bit smaller and has a slightly redish tinge, and the "corners" are completely gone. Additionally, my male has been in hyperactive mode and is trying to mate with her around the clock.
I thought that perhaps she had given birth, but I can't find any sign of fry, alive or dead, anywhere. The brush is thick enough that I'd be surprised if at least a few didn't make it there, but I moved the plants around a bit and there is no sign of movement. She is continuing to excrete more waste than usual-or at least more frequently.
I've checked the water conditions and other than having water that is a bit hard, everything is in balance. I have not changed their diet at all. Any idea what is going on? I'm guessing that she has been "showing" for at least 3 weeks now....my swortails usually didn't "show" until about a week before the birth, but I have no experience with guppies. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks so much!
-Susie
I'm new to these boards but hope someone can help me. I have bred livebearers in the past (mostly swordtails), buy my female guppy is truly baffling me. I can't tell if she just put on a lot of weight, is sick or is pregnant!
I got her about 8 weeks ago, and placed her in a tank with one male guppy a few female guppies and a few mollies. My male guppy took a "shine" to her right away, so it was no shock when about 3 weeks later I thought I noticed her gravid spot becoming darker.
About two weeks after I first noticed her gravid spot, she began to put on weight rather rapidly. She grew a little in length but for the most part the weight was in her belly area. After watching her for a few days I decided she was pregnant and moved her and the male into a 5 gallon well planted "birthing tank". I used the male because the two of them had seemed to partner up and exclude the other fish, although now I'm thinking using another female might have been better. During the first several days I kept a really close eye on their behavior, and although they kept pretty tight, the male did not try to breed with her once. I assumed that he must realize she is not fertile, since generally he never stops harassing the females.
Over the next week or so her belly grew larger, and I thought her gravid spot grew a little larger/darker, but she was acting hyper so I figured she wasn't ready yet. Toward the end of that week I saw that my male began to obsessively try to mate with her again, although she kept rejecting him, and I also noticed that she seemed to be excreting more waste than usual.
During this past week I have caught her hiding out in the plants on one or two occassions, but she remains hyper. A few times I thought I saw the "corners" that people refer to on the back of her belly right below her gravid spot, but when I'd check a few hours later they were gone. I was never able to catch a glimpse of the fry moving inside her like I have for other fish in the past, but I'm not sure if that is because she doesn't really stop moving long enough for me to look. For the last two days she still looks "heavy" but her gravid spot looks a bit smaller and has a slightly redish tinge, and the "corners" are completely gone. Additionally, my male has been in hyperactive mode and is trying to mate with her around the clock.
I thought that perhaps she had given birth, but I can't find any sign of fry, alive or dead, anywhere. The brush is thick enough that I'd be surprised if at least a few didn't make it there, but I moved the plants around a bit and there is no sign of movement. She is continuing to excrete more waste than usual-or at least more frequently.
I've checked the water conditions and other than having water that is a bit hard, everything is in balance. I have not changed their diet at all. Any idea what is going on? I'm guessing that she has been "showing" for at least 3 weeks now....my swortails usually didn't "show" until about a week before the birth, but I have no experience with guppies. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks so much!
-Susie
