Giving birth NOW!!!

[Pysgodyn]

The blue guppy in the other thread, I believe, is giving birth! She's alone in the middle of the plants (facing upwards), just hovering. She's well hidden, and I haven't seen anything yet. 3 questions!

a. How long will the 'procedure' last from the first fry, to the last? (I guess this varies)

b. How much of a gap is usually between each fry popping out?

c. Should I scoop them up as soon as I see them (to put them in the nursing net), or should I wait for them all to be born first? (I don't want to upset the mother)!


Thanks!!


EDIT: I've now seen about 20 fry!! ....but now she's doing a funny yellow poo. I've never seen any fish poo this colour before...is it ok?! lol

 

[lilfishie]

i would try get them out as they are being born but try not to startle mum

 

[terrorist_124]

the lenght of birth can take between a minute and a week.
the fry come out according to the lenght of the total time.
i would wait until she has almost finished before removing the fry.

 

[paige]

congradtulations on the fry
i would try to get the fry out as they r born if u want to keep them

 

[abstract]

the yellow stuff could be aborted eggs/babies

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

The yellow stuff is aborted eggs which either wern't fertilised to become fry and the mother fish has been carrying or fry which died early on if you bought the pregnant fish pre-pregnated and had started to be re-absorbed into the mother but came out when she gave birth to the live fry.
The birthing process could take all day and she could still give birth to more fry anytime within the next week, leave the fry in the tank for at least 5hrs as they themselves will be stressed and weak from the birthing process and may die from shock if moved too early so i'd give them some time in the current tank to at least adjust to living and breathing in water
The mother fish will usually have 15minute gaps between giving birth and she will usually give birth between 5 and 10 at a time but this realy varys from fish to fish.
Try not to disturb the mother fish at all and turn the tank lights off as this will help lower her stress levels and help ensure a sucessful birth, i suggest you give her some food especially any high protein foods you have at hand like freezedried daphinia/tubifex/bloodworms/krill as these will help give some of her energy back and if she is not hungry she will also be less likely to eat her own fry .

 

[paulthegreat]

The color of the poo may have to do with the last food given. When my Swordies birth they sometimes drop under or unfertilized eggs. The eggs look like just that, round balls with a darker yolk, kinda like a chicken egg in a glas of water on a much smaller scale. The birthing can take a long time and the Mommy can poo between releasing fry.