Guppy struggling with labour!

[Joby]

My female guppy Shadow started labour last night after her vent had been open for a couple of days and she was huge. The fry took an hour to come out and it was unfortunately dead and quite big. The neons soon took care of it

Straight away another bulge started coming out but it took her half an hour to get the fry out. This one was alive and went swimming off into the plants. I left her than as it was 2am and also I thought that now the blockage was gone she would be ok.

This morning she's not looking good at all. No fry to be seen in the tank and she's still huge, her vent is still open and it looks like something is trying to come out. She's exhausted now and is having real trouble staying down in the tank and keeps floating up to the top again. She's wedged herself into some plants but it doesn't look good.

I doubt there is anything I can do to help her, but any recommendations or has this happened to anyone else? I've left her in the main tank as none of the other fish are bothering her. I do have a breeding trap to segregate her if need be, but don't really want to bother her. Would she be better off if I euthanaesed her? Are the babies going to die in her and then kill her anyway? Any ideas and suggestions will be greatfully received

This fish business is really hard to take sometimes

 

[liam101]

hey its me. I havnt got much experience but if shes struggling it might be best to put her in the breeding net just so that shes in a controlled area, maybe put some plants or something in there so she feels secure. Other than than hope 4 the best. Hope everything goes ok.

 

[Joby]

Hi Liam

The update is she didn't make it

She was virtually dead when I got back to the tank so I put her in the breeding trap as the others were nosing around her. She was dead a couple of minutes later.

I cut her open straight away and there were 8 perfectly formed big fry inside her, but all were dead

I did get 11 fry off her the day after I bought her and they are 4 weeks old tomorrow and doing well. I have 2 exactly the same as her and I think one is female so fingers crossed she makes it and at least I will have a lasting reminder of her. I'm going to miss her as she was a lovely natured guppy and never tried to eat her babies

Shadow

 

[JacopoFishy]

so sorry your guppy and her fry didn't make it. I am glad that you have the other 4 week old fry though, to remember her by, as you said. Sounds like there was nothing you could have done. I bet she loved having you as her caretaker and owner.

 

[Joby]

Thanks JacopoFishy

I felt utterly useless in not being able to help her