Guppy Pests

[omega59]

Hi. I have a 10 gallon tank with 5 guppy juvenials. I just got an adult female platy and my guppies are poking her. I added plants to trick them, will they leave her alone? She is also pregnant I can also see the tube near her bottom and she is squared very much so. I will post pics shorty so you all can judge and tell me also what kind of platy she is. She is very beautiful and healthy I am pleased with my $1 purchase lol.

 

[fluffycabbage]

Hi. I have a 10 gallon tank with 5 guppy juvenials. I just got an adult female platy and my guppies are poking her. I added plants to trick them, will they leave her alone? She is also pregnant I can also see the tube near her bottom and she is squared very much so. I will post pics shorty so you all can judge and tell me also what kind of platy she is. She is very beautiful and healthy I am pleased with my $1 purchase lol.

what sex are the guppies? are you planning on keeping the fry? how long have they been living in the tank together?

 

[omega59]

I have 4 females 1 male. The tank is running for 8 months now without any problems or disease. The guppies never showed sign of agressiveness before new platy arrived. I do plan to keep the fry whatever survive I guess. I raised these guppies from babies.

 

[fluffycabbage]

how long have they been together now? it can take a while for them to get used to eachother when you say theyre poking at her, ar they nipping her? or just kinda showing interest?

 

[omega59]

A few hours together. No poking on her side or top. Like with their mouths like a bunt. Should I put her in a large breeder container till she drops?

 

[fluffycabbage]

A few hours together. No poking on her side or top. Like with their mouths like a bunt. Should I put her in a large breeder container till she drops?

not sure what a bunt is unless you plan on keeping all the fry, and raising them, and have a tank suitable for that, then dont put her in a breeder trap, it'll only stress her out more. all fish need time to get used to eachother. as long as they arent nipping at her it should be fine, theyre just telling her its their tank turn the lights out and leave them off for today (are you in the US?).

eta- sorry just seen youre on the east coast of the better part of north america

 

[omega59]

I'm in Canada Ontario Woodbridge

 

[fluffycabbage]

I'm in Canada Ontario Woodbridge

lovely wish i was over in your fair land again

 

[omega59]

I uploaded pictures. She is yellow with a twin bar tail and some black on her sides. What kind of platy is this?

 

[OldMan47]

She looks like what the pet shops call a tuxedo to me. She does not seem especially heavy yet to me. I would guess another week or so from what I can tell from pictures. You have placed a new fish into your tank and the guppies are naturally curious about her. It turns out that freshwater fish urinate constantly to control their uptake of water that happens through osmosis. Since the urine identifies them by odor, the guppies are probably bumping into that new fish where they can "smell" her, much as you see a dog do, to find out what she really is. Some research has been done that points to fish using the odor to actually identify the correct species before engaging in mating activities. The research I have seen was done using mollies but I assume it would also apply to guppies.

 

[omega59]

Agh yes it is a tuxedo very cool. I read when you see the white tube near her bottom fins, it means she is going to have the fry. Are there any other signs?

 

[OldMan47]

I am very aware that what 5teady calls a female that is ready to drop fits into a well defined situation with the general conception of a livebearer ready to drop. The other signs of a fish ready to drop include that the new potential mother is not very sociable and often seeks shelter in plants and behind things like filter tubes.
I always use the shape of the female to judge her state of readiness but other people are able to use the color of the gravid spot and similar things for that purpose.
My own observations are in a thread that I have posted that can be reached using a link in my signature area. My link is about My Molly's Progress from one drop to the next. It is full of pictures and my observations along the way. The idea, when I put it together, was to let new livebearer keepers learn to judge the status of their females and not need to rely on "experts" to judge pictures of their fish.

 

[omega59]

Looks like your text cut off OldMan

Are these tuxedo fish tattooed to look like that, does this mean the fry will not be like her? I read they are tattooed fish how sad i was not aware.

 

[OldMan47]

Tuxedos are not tattooed fish. The dark body color with a lighter fins color was established in the hobby long before the ability to tattoo fish was recognized. They are a cross of one or another kind between platies and swordtails but I am not a Xiphophorus genetics savant so I do not know exactly what cross is used to produce them. Once they are established and breeding true, producing the next generation is as simple as keeping the fry alive.

 

[omega59]

I guess what I read was wrong then. She is very pretty and I am pleased so far. I have a spare tank ready to hold her babies. But I will let her drop in the main tank I guess. Too much moving for her I don't want stress.