Gem Is Messing With Me, Yes?

[BlueDragon]

Gem is one of my few remaining female Guppies. She's been preggers for about five weeks now and has been very square for about a week of that time. Seriously she almost looks like she has a chin! But there's been no sign of her about to give birth yet.
This will be her second pregnancy, with her first being a worry for me with her being so small. But she managed fine. Only two fry were saved, one dieing and the other now living in the main tank and quickly showing that it's going to turn out much like mummy. So I guessed she didn't have many babies, which acutally I was happy about 'cause it must have made it easier for her.

I'm just a little concerned as to how long she's been square for. I've just lost Geisha on Monday and before she went she reabsorbed her pregnancy. I knew then that she wasn't well and it's been upsetting for me really as again I've felt like I'm just sitting here not being able to help. So I suppose I'm probably just being paranoid about my little Gem. I'm starting to worry that she might be having problems giving birth.
She is swimming fine, eating, pooping and exploring all the same. She's not hovering at the top of the tank or hiding anywhere. But I have noticed that she has became a bit short-tempered with the other Fish, sometimes nudging/nipping at them to get them to move out of her way. She's always been a feisty little Fish but this seems different. Geisha got in a right strop just before she gave birth to her 'Fantango' babies so I think maybe Gem is just feeling the same?

Has anyone else had a Guppy take a while to give birth once squared off? Should I be worried about her?

 

[Em29]

Well I am a relative newbie but I have bred Platy's a few times (none of my doing actually )

What you are describing sounds completely normal and healthy. My platies were pregnant for what seemed like forever...and when you least expect it - you will have babies!

Naughty Gem

 

[PrairieSunflower]

What you describe doesn't worry me either. I've had this happen twice with guppies with different results. The one that was just like you described is fine and still birthing many batches of babies. My other one had some differences that I think were very telling... her behavior changed and wasn't either normal behavior for her or for what you will hear/read is normal behavior for a guppy ready to give birth... and I believe that was what resulted in her death.

In your situation... I'd be expecting many many many babies.

 

[BlueDragon]

Thanks for clearing that up for me both : ) I'll not worry so much for the minuet then... well, I'll try.

Oh, I am still expecting tons of babies! X )

She's still carrying, looks like a box with a tail. She's bigger than last time, both in size and fatness, so I think she might have more fry this time.

Everything about her is still normal, but she is a bit stroppy. I saw he nipping at Panda who was getting very curious about her naughty bits. I thought then that she must be about to give birth but nothing came of it. But Panda (my only other remaining adult Guppy) is still getting curious. She'll go up to Gem and nuzzle her underside. Not bite or nip, but sort of nudge a bit. She must be able to smell something maybe? I've seem that sort of behaviour before with my past girls, so I know it can't be that long now... surely?

Come on Gem, where's those pretty babies now? ; )

 

[PrairieSunflower]

That can be a sign she may be close... others often gather around with the intention of eating babies.

I have a "Panda" too... mine is a half black female... so cute, I love her... got her Friday and she STILL refuses to come out from the back of the tank. When I am across the room I occasionally spot that she's come out but if I dare look any closer she hides.

 

[BlueDragon]

Yeah my Panda is half black too, I think what people call a tux? She has thin black rings round her eyes too so I called her Panda 'cause she does kinda look like one! She's the opposte of your 'Panda' though, she's quite social and will come to see me when I walk past the tank.

Yeah, it does seem to be the case, that they'll hover around preggers girls. But I still have no baby Gems : /

Seriously though, she can't keep them in there forever! X )