emergency?

[sumer_kay]

My female platies (I have two with one male in a planted 10 gal) who seem to have been pregnant since I got them still haven't given birht...but today they were both acting wierd, kind of hiding. and lieing on the bottom of the tank. Almost seemed like they had or were giving birth, but I can't find any fry.....Maybe they were all eaten already? Also they have long sort of stringy waste trailing behing them..placenta? anyone had thishappen? is it normal, or a problem.,......This is my first time owning livebearers, so I don't really know what to expect. please help

 

[-Chewy-]

Well sumer_kay, one way to find out whether they have given birth is, have their stomach strunk? Although I have seen livebearers that stomachs are still huge after giving birth but usually it should be noticably smaller.
When giving birth, or about to give birth, my guppies hide but never lie on the bottom on the tank. They most of the time sturdy at a 45 degree angle, breathing hard. Lying on the bottom of the tank is usually signs of stress or sickness.
As for the stringy thing, what is the color of it? Is it transparent?
One advice is, you should get a breeder box, this way, you can save the fry when they are born.
Good luck with your platys!

-Chewy-

 

[jams.alaskan]

I guess I'm worried that your water is not good right now - not that they are pregnant... Have you tested it? Lying on the bottom isn't normal...

ALASKA

 

[Jen]

I just found my babies this morning.... could only find them when i moved plants and rocks and whatnot. Babies are great at hiding. And they are tiny... like 4 or 5 mm... have a look at the pic of mine.... the gravel in the first pic is pea gravel.... just under a centimetre in size, give or take.

I also had some white stuff floating in the tank... could be placenta.

My platy's also hung around the bottom for a while... i dont know if it was pre or post birth... but i would think she's be tired after giving birth.

Good luck with them (if you can find them)