Female Guppy, Is Something Wrong?

[justahbi]

I currently have a ten gallon tank with one female guppy(we tried keeping guppies but the ones we were getting ended up sick, we switched to other live bearers but kept her because she managed to make it) one black female molly, two female sunset platy's one male sunset platy, and four cory catfish. I am concerned about the female guppy. We are certain she is pregnant, she has a very large dark gravid spot and we know she has been in a tank with male guppy's before. She seems to be holding onto the fry. We have had her for almost three months now and she has still not produced any fry and her gravid spot has not changed at all. I am worried that if she continues doing this she will harm herself.

Unfortunately I also understand that there tank conditions are not ideal. We live in a very cold area and our house is almost always very cold. Therefor we have a hard time keeping the temperature in the tank in the high 70's like they prefer. It is usually just at 70 sometimes lower. The tank is equipped with plenty of hiding spaces, as well as open areas, an appropriate filter and heater. She is overall a very active fish, she is not bullied by any of the other fish that are in there with her, in fact we think she is convinced she is a platy!

Does anyone have any suggestions for me about this silly fish? Should I be concerned?

 

[OldMan47]

At lower temperatures, the fry will mature more slowly but 3 months is beyond slow. Have a good look at her from above to help you judge how close she may be. From above she will be obviously wider in the middle if she is close. There is also a link in my signature area called ready to pop where 5teady shows pictures of a platy to demonstarte different stages of pregnancy. A guppy will go through almost the identical process. Chances are good that your guppy has given birth unnoticed in the past couple of months. The color of the gravid spot is a terrible indicator for a guppy as far as how pregnant she may be. It seems to be the first indication that people new to the hobby learn but is not at all reliable as an indicator. If your female is heavy but not squared off, she may just be eating too well. Guppies tend to keep eating until the food runs out.

 

[fish48]

As oldman47 said At lower temperatures, the fry will mature more slowly at a temperature of 70f and lower it can take the fry 6 to 8 weeks to mature.