The Lone Guppy...

[!Gina]

Hey!

I have a little problem and im not sure what to do, I've recently placed my heavily pregnant guppy into a
breeding trap and a couple of hours later we have one tiny fry that has fallen to the bottom of the trap to safety.
I'm concerned that there is no longer any visable 'black' dots inside her, could this be her only fry? and is this normal? I was told to expect between 12 and 30. and its been over 24hrs?

Ironically we only need 1 new guppy, I just feel sorry for it being on its own.

 

[smooth_bourbon]

Are you sure the momma didnt eat the rest of them?

 

[!Gina]

Its possible she could have done, but that would be an awful lot for her to eat and she had already eaten when she started giving birth.
Its a mystery to me, I'm unsure wheter to keep her in the breeding trap for a while or let her go.

 

[ClaireN]

Im guessing mum had a snack

Hope you don’t mind me asking but why do you need only one more Guppy?

From what I have found out here you should have a minimum ratio of 1 male to 2 females for any livebearer and if possible you should have a ratio of 1 male to 3 females, this is so the females don’t get stressed by all of the attention from the males.

Hope this helps.

Claire

 

[Annastasia]

Is it possible she could have aborted some fry? They'd look like tiny round yellowish balls. But they could be anywhere in the tank. Also, it's possible, some fry were born still-born and she ate them. Or she could have just plain eaten them. It's hard to say.

But I would definitely take her out of the breeding trap, she'll get very stressed out if she's kept in there too long. If you have any high-protein foods (Live/Frozen/Freeze-dried), I'd give her some to help her get her strength back up.

Congrats on the baby though! He won't be too lonely, because in another month you'll have more fry...and they'll be able to go together.

 

[!Gina]

I wanted another female guppy so i'd then have 1 female to every male in the tank. (2 male 2 female)
I know it isnt ideal but it evens the odds a little more atleast!

Also, she had 5 fry (that i saw) 3 of which died, I've seperated the two that remain and they have a whole tank to themselves now & mum is now back in the bigger tank. They all seem to be doing fine

Thanks for all the advice, you're all very helpful.

 

[Annastasia]

Glad to hear everyone is doing well!

Though as soon as you can, you should get at least 2 more females. 2 females per male is really the absolute minimum for the females to take. The more attention they get from the males, the more stressed they are, which leads to them being less immune to disease...it's a bad cycle. That may also be why she only had a few fry...stress.

Sorry, I'm not lecturing. But a few more females will be the best for the well being of them all.

 

[OMA]

Im guessing mum had a snack

Hope you don’t mind me asking but why do you need only one more Guppy?

From what I have found out here you should have a minimum ratio of 1 male to 2 females for any livebearer and if possible you should have a ratio of 1 male to 3 females, this is so the females don’t get stressed by all of the attention from the males.

Hope this helps.

Claire

I'm not too sure about that ratio, i have guppies, 20 now since 2 females hade babies.
For one, my males have picked their mates and harrass them constanly never letting them be, this is in a mix of 1M to 3-4F.
Secondly, i was caught by suprise by the births since they started the day after i bought them. I believe that i lost a couple but apart from that the fry didn't bother with the plants for hiding but instead prefered to swim in a group at the top of the tank and leg it if any other fish come close. the adults don't seem bothered though.

in a week or two, they will be big enough so if people want them in the london area just reply. i am interested in fish trading if people have fish they don't want, cos i would never condone killing and why should shops benefit from it when they give little or nothing in retun

 

[daddyfish]

Congrats on the BABY, first off.

I'd take her outta the trap though, if she hasn't had anymore, She most likly isn't going to.

She probably ate a few, and like a couple of the others have said Some may have been still born, or She aborted some. But in any event at least you've got One outta the Bunch.

And I'm sure here soon He'll have MORE Siblings then he'll want to contend with.

I know in my case My TWO Sisters Drive me Nuts...

I don't want to know what 10 or 20 would be like...

Again CONGRATS and Enjoy the NEW Baby.