Female guppy in big trouble

[xanthianacid]

Hi. My son's only remaining female guppy adult was due to give birth again last Monday. She's been hiding rather well we just thought that was OK because of the expected birth.

Now we find she no longer looks pregnant, no new fry that we can see in the tank, and she is laying and moving in the shape of un upside down horse shoe. She is showing a small amount of distress, but is still moving remaining in that shape.

Does this mean broken spine? How would she have gotten that? She looks in difficulty rather than pain.

Could it be she is just exhausted from the birth (its her second since we got her) and given time she may recover.

I would hate to euthanise her for lots of reasons, especially if she might recover. What should I do?

 

[Kiarra]

Is it possible she hasn't released ALL of her fry yet? I've seen them adopt the kind of posture you're describing (if I'm imagining it right) while birthing.

Don't euthanize her. Just give her time.

 

[xanthianacid]

She doesn't look pregnant anymore, doesn't mean she isn't still needing to give birth. I'm not looking to euthanise her.

 

[Kiarra]

The "difficulty" rather than pain tends to lead me to believe she IS still birthing, as well as the posture. I think that's probably what it is, but if she's still like that after several more hours with no fry coming out, then it must be something else.

 

[xanthianacid]

I'll keep watch on her. If it continues I'll be upset.

 

[xanthianacid]

She looks worse. She's stopped moving mostly, just moves a teeny tiny bit when provoked to move by a passing fish. Where she normally would be a pale whitish colour naturally she's now grey and her fins are even paler. I don't think she's dead yet, but it seems inevitable now. I don't know if I could bring myself to euthanise her, but its probably cruel not to.

 

[Kiarra]

Maybe one of her babies got stuck, and she's still trying to push that baby out. That's happened to several of mine. I've been able to remedy it because I watched most of the whole birth and acted quickly, but that's just because the females in question were in a small tank next to me where I could get in and reach them.

Here's what I did on one occasion (out of desperation, mostly, because I knew she and the fry were dead if I didn't do SOMETHING). I put her in a small box full of tank water and held her lightly against the side, restraining her. She was trying so hard to give birth that she didn't care TOO MUCH what I did...I was no big deal compared to the fry she was trying to expel from her body. Then I placed gentle but firm pressure on her abdomen, and kind of helped her push by sliding my finger down towards the area where the fry would come out.

It took about three tries, but the fry popped out. In that instance, the fry was stillborn, but I've managed to have BOTH the mother and the fry live with assisted birthing.

 

[xanthianacid]

OK, I'll give it a go. I will wait until the children are in bed though - they are all younger than six, and I don't want them to be concerned or try and touch her - not gently. Its only about an hour til bed time for them anyway.

Thanks for your help Kiarra You've been great. Hopefully it's not too late for her.

 

[xanthianacid]

Well, my hubby assisted with the birth, but the bad news is the poor girl died during the birth. I just couldn't do it. I tried and got too freaked I guess. Wierd. Usually I am not queasy but now I'm pregnant I seem to be. I guess I empathised with her.

It was definately fry that were stuck. Seven living fry were able to be born, and a few still born (definately on the minority though). I guess fish keeping is filled with ups and downs. This is just one of those cases. We lost a full grown guppy and now have seven lucky fry survivors. We aren't going to release them into any tanks but give them the best chance to live in a the little betta tank she gave birth in, equipt with filter and filter media.

Good luck little fishies, Please Live!!!

 

[glolite]

So sorry about your female guppy RIP

Good luck with the fry though. I had a guppy that died in similar circumstances but I didn't know you could help them birth. This story has taught me something, so very worthwhile

 

[xanthianacid]

Kiarra was a great help. I have seven little fishes to try and help live now, so it might justify her death a little. But I wouldn't have even known if it weren't for Kiarra's help that it could be done.

 

[Joby]

So sorry to hear you lost your girl

I really hope the little survivors do well

I've lost 3 females during childbirth and its very distressing so thank you to Kiarra from me also as I may use her tip in the future.

 

[eudielynn]

So sorry you lost your little girl, but thankfully you were able to save some of the fry. I have two little guppy girlies and they are such sweeties.

 

[Kiarra]

I'm so glad the babies made it, even if their mother didn't. I had a similar circumstance, where I ended up with a bunch of babies but no mother. Now that the babies are growing, they resemble her so much that it just does my heart good to have them around.

I didn't think it would be possible to help them, either, before I did it. But I figured I had nothing to lose, so I may as well try it.

I'm just glad I could help you and the seven little babies.

 

[xanthianacid]

Well the 7 fry are more than what we were left with the last time. We brought two female guppys and two male guppys for that tank, now both females have been lost to birthing. At least we have some fry from three births, if I had of helped the other female out when she tried birthing the second time she and or her fry might have survived. It seems terrible odds for a female guppy, considering they stay pregnant basically over and over. Its really sad when you get to know them I guess.

Thanks again Kiarra