guppies not breeding

[FishFreak]

My female guppy, Lucy, I believe was pregnant when I bought her (though, she didn't show yet). She's had 3 broods since. Given her pattern of birthing every 25 days I expected another brood soon, but alas she appears not pregnant at all let alone ready to *pop*. Could the babies be from a male other than Ricky they were with in the store? (As I suspect). If so, Why will Lucy and Ricky not reproduce together?

 

[bettasplendenlover]

lucy may have changed sex?

 

[Angry_Platy]

If they are male and female it is guaranteed they will breed!!

 

[FishFreak]

WHOA! Back up~changed sex!? Enlighten me please, how and why would she do that?! Does this mean I have to call her Fred instead? What will Ethel say? LOL

 

[bettasplendenlover]

all livebearers change sex at 1 point in their lives!

 

[Silva_Fishy]

WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DOLORES]

all livebearers change sex at 1 point in their lives!

yeah right 4 real?

 

[Angry_Platy]

for real....yeah....a young platy will look female until the anal fin starts to fold (jn the case of a male) up to make a spike....the penis...9 times out of 10 this happens when the fish is small....(mine change sex after about 3 months of age)...if they are late developers....they might look like female for longer....

Look at the anal fin...if it is a spike....it is male...if it is a fan...it is female

 

[Angry_Platy]

Actually, I just read what you posted again....chances are that what you thought was a male is really a female....if Lucy ha dropped fry allready then she CANNOT change sex...

 

[schzaam]

they might not be able to produce together but if they get use to eah other they should reproduce but it could take a while

 

[noelberg]

after searching many sites on the internet, livebearers changing sex is a MYTH.

you either bought an underdeveloped male who has grown up and has had the chance to develop since he became the dominant male in your tank. OR you have an old female who has grown a non-functional gonopodum and possibly a bit of a sword - this has been documented to happen, much like when senior women's testosterone levels go all whacko and they begin to grow facial hair. Some reef fish are well known sex-changers, tho!

there is also a chance that the livebearer might be a hermaphrodite ... but not a big chance.

Fishfreak, your guppy might just be "tired" and needs some time before she is ready to breed. Schzaam has some good advice - give it time

HTH

 

[tstenback]

All good advice above. But if anything fits into the category of things that make you go HMMMMMMMMMMMMM then its guppies NOT breeding