Female Guppy Turned Into Male One!

[GuppyGoddess]

Ugh. Okay, so I bought a small guppy a while back and it had the female looking stuff "down there," but now, abrubtly, the fin has changed form into a male guppy. Now I have two males and another SMALL guppy who I thought was female, but may also be male, as well. What happens if the small one does turn out to be a girl? How many females do I need to even out the score? Would two males and two females be okay?

 

[Shelby]

I have read on this board multiple times (pretty sure anyway) 3 females to 1 male. Make sure your tank can support however many fish you put in it.

 

[dunchp]

That is right but a reverse trio is not the end of the world. The ratios are a good guide but each situation is different. Try to avoid having 3 or more males to each female.

You can judge for yourself.

Look at the female, if both males are focussing on her at the same time you will need to even out the ratio or buy a few more females. If the males are pestering the female and she is starting to look stressed then you would need another female or two.

Sometimes, in a community tank there is enough going on to distract the males for a time leaving the female to get some rest and in that instance you may not need to worry too much. Similarly if the female is getting a chance to feed and rest then you can leave well alone.

As with all of these things, the rules are great but always trust your experience.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

It's difficult for me to tell if the two are pestering the little guppy more than they should because ALL of my guppies always bicker with each other. Not a lot, but still they remind me of my kids AND my cats. Always something going on.

My tank cannot support a larger ratio of guppies. Right now it has the three guppies and two pygmy cories. I cannot move the cories b/c none of my other tanks are established as the tank they're currently in. The tank is a 5.5 gallon and the filter is for a 5-10 gallon. (I was going to set up a larger tank for them to breed, but now I'm not sure, so possibly, if the little one is a girl, I'll take her back to the LFS.)

 

[dunchp]

Quite a few years ago, I was fixated with what the books said and what other people said about my fish.

Then I met fish48 who was doing something completely the opposite to what my books said (I can't remember what), when I questioned him he told me that fish can't read books.

Whilst the books say that the ratios are 2 females to every male are right (and that is right), the most important medium is what you can see rather than what you can read in the books. If the single female is holding her own, feeding OK and looking relaxed then she is fine and there is no need to worry - if she is looking harrassed (and you will know if she is) then you need to do something about it. A little bit of 'cut and thrust' is normal.

It is normally fairly obvious when a fish is not happy, if they are happy then let them be.

 

[Shelby]

I have to agree with dunchp. You will know if your fish is unhappy. We say the same thing in the dog world. Dogs can't read books either What works for one doesn't always work for another. Unless isn't an obvious thing like mixing guppies and pihranas (spelling)... well you get the idea!

 

[guppymonkey]

Quite a few years ago, I was fixated with what the books said and what other people said about my fish.

Then I met fish48 who was doing something completely the opposite to what my books said (I can't remember what), when I questioned him he told me that fish can't read books.

Whilst the books say that the ratios are 2 females to every male are right (and that is right), the most important medium is what you can see rather than what you can read in the books. If the single female is holding her own, feeding OK and looking relaxed then she is fine and there is no need to worry - if she is looking harrassed (and you will know if she is) then you need to do something about it. A little bit of 'cut and thrust' is normal.

It is normally fairly obvious when a fish is not happy, if they are happy then let them be.

I would suggest to any fish keeper to follow the advice of a book over their own instincts unless they are very experienced. It can be difficult to identify problems with fish caused by stress.

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Quite a few years ago, I was fixated with what the books said and what other people said about my fish.

Then I met fish48 who was doing something completely the opposite to what my books said (I can't remember what), when I questioned him he told me that fish can't read books.

Whilst the books say that the ratios are 2 females to every male are right (and that is right), the most important medium is what you can see rather than what you can read in the books. If the single female is holding her own, feeding OK and looking relaxed then she is fine and there is no need to worry - if she is looking harrassed (and you will know if she is) then you need to do something about it. A little bit of 'cut and thrust' is normal.

It is normally fairly obvious when a fish is not happy, if they are happy then let them be.

I would suggest to any fish keeper to follow the advice of a book over their own instincts unless they are very experienced. It can be difficult to identify problems with fish caused by stress.

With my other fish (I have bettas), it's been easy to tell when they're stressed. My littlest female had horizontal lines indicating stress for a few months and finally settled into her tank AFTER she was alone in it for a number of weeks and now had vertical breeding lines. Whenever I tried putting new fish in, she would loose color again.

Guppies, on the other hand, are difficult for me to assess. All I know for sure is that I'm really not wanting to buy anymore. I feel sad because it's my son's tank and he's excited to "sell" the guppy babies I thought we'd make (I told him we would sell them even though we'll actually give them to the pet store) and now, I just want them to live out their lives and then fill the tank with another species. Total bummer.

 

[Haych]

they'll be fine.

i agree with dunchp, my males WAY out-number the females (for some unknown reason allbabies born seem to be boys), but theyre happy, and can really nip the boys if they get too much!

just watch and see, its the best option.

Usually a ratio of 2:1 is best, but not essential if they dont get harrassed (but remember she WILL get harrassed just after having her babies as she releases a pheramone that attracts the boys)

 

[GuppyGoddess]

Usually a ratio of 2:1 is best, but not essential if they dont get harrassed (but remember she WILL get harrassed just after having her babies as she releases a pheramone that attracts the boys)

When WILL the babies come? I kept asking my other young guppy why she wasn't pregnant yet, and finally the answer came when she transformed into a male! lol

 

[Haych]

lol i just tittered at that.

it depends if theyre old enough/big enough to reproduce.

tbh, i cant really answer that one, i have only ever known guppies to breed, but their babies are born and probably eaten before i find them. i usually know one has dropped as all the males chase her