Is It Normal For A Female Guppy...

[darkmerlin21]

OK... me again.. Miss "Does not know much!" (But am willing to learn, I'll add).

I have two F guppies and I thought for sure the lighter colored one was WAY more preggers than my other dark one. Today I look and the darker one seems to have gotten VERY fat almost overnight! I am worried that she may have something wrong. Is this "normal" or is there something else going on here?

All help much appreciated!

 

[Annastasia]

Hello again.

Sometimes they will appear to get fat overnight, but it seems your's has an extreme case. I doubt it would just be the fry in her, unless they shifted. I would lean more towards something is wrong. It's possible she may be constipated or bloated. What's your feeding schedule been like, and what have you been feeding? She also may have dropsy. Is there any indication of her scales pine-coning? What are your water parameters like? Any information you can give would be helpful in figuring out what is wrong, if something is.

 

[darkmerlin21]

Sorry for the lack of info... I will answer what I can.

Feeding schedule: I usually feed them twice a day, a small pinch of flakes. A few days ago I replaced the flakes with some frozen brine shrimp for one feeding. Just today I gave them freeze-dried bloodworms for the night feeding. She was fat by then, though.. lol. She ate still, so...

I am not sure what "pineconing" is but I will guess it has to do with her scales looking like a pinecone(sticking out)? This is not the case... she seems to be alot rounder is all.

My tank is only 5 weeks old and I have not been able to find any test kits where I live with the exception of an ammonia testing one. Took a reading today and it was at about 2.0. I was planning a 20% water change tonight to help that.

Thanks AGAIN for your reply.. I'm afraid you may be having to help me out a bit here.. lol
Very appreciative for your time and patience.

 

[Annastasia]

Hmmm...it would appear it is fry then, not a problem. Is there any chance of a picture of her? I might be able to get a better idea of what's going on then. Exactly how much fatter did she get? Did she appear to go from really skinny to really fat? Or just got fatter, fast?

Yeah, I'd definitely try to get that ammonia down. When you cycle with fish, you have to keep a close eye on the water stats. It' s a pity you can't find any tests locally. Do they sell them in kits, or could you possibly get them online? As water parameters are pretty important when cycling.

 

[darkmerlin21]

Well, I just went and did a partial water change on the tank. When I went to do it I noticed that my girl had a rather large... poop? I think she maybe just ate a lot..lol. I am SO sorry. She still looks much bigger but not like she ballooned overnight anymore. I was so worried because when we got these 3 guppies, my daughter named her Tiny because she was so much smaller than our other female (Miss Piggy, by the way). Now she seems to have caught right up to her larger tankmate. I don't think she was pregnant when we first puchased her and I know the larger female was. Maybe it is due to her finally starting to show. In any case, I will keep an eye on her and again I apologize.. I just really don't want to lose any of these guys. I did do research before purchasing fish to cycle with and read that guppies were good for this. Wish I had found this forum before that.

I am planning to make a trip to the city that I live about an hour away from to get testing kits.. it is just that I am working every day right now. Perhaps I can ask my friend to test my water for me as he has all the necessary kits for his own tank. Thanks again.