Got Ma Guppy's!

[timmystood]

OK, so my second tank has finally cycled so today I trotted off to get some Platies - I had made up my mind that Platies where the livebearers I would get - 3 females would do and when they stopped producing fry I would get a male.

However, I went to my normally excellent LFS and they only had 1 female Platy
So, I decieded to go for my second choice of guppies - I took the last three female guppies and they've just been put in the tank.

The idea of getting livebearers for me is to get fry - so I was a little unsure when I got to the LFS and the guppies had been split into seperate tanks - males and females.

She bagged up the females and I ask "Have they been with males, so I know if there likely to have spawned or not" - the unhelpful reply was...

"Quite possibly, we usually get some that breed!" - not very helpful but probably the best she could do.

Now, 2 of the 3 are fairly fat - and all three have a black dot near the end of them (but i've never seen an unpregnant guppy so I don't now if this is because their pregnant or not!)

So, there's the background now the questions!

1. Does it sound like their pregnant???
2. Does anyone have a picture of an unpreganant guppy and a pregnant one???
3. If they are pregnant - when can I expect babies???

I'd done all the research on platies and I guess I maybe should have come home and research the guppies first but it's rare for me to go to my LFS and i'm worried they won't be there when I go back and I don't want to leave the tank empty.

Thanks in advance and sorry it's so long!

 

[Annastasia]

Congrats on the newest additions!

1. Probably. If the gravid spot is pretty dark, and they are kind of fat, it's most likely they are pregnant.

2. As close as you're going to get to them looking non-pregnant: http/www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~s2252357/fishT...ale%20guppy.jpg
Pregnant: http/tropicalfishgallery.com/species-gal...male_guppy2.jpg

3. Within a month.

 

[timmystood]

No - I don't think they are - they look a lot like that non-pregnant guppy in the picture - very bloated but not as fat as the pregnant picture.

Thanks

P.S. - One of them has had her fins nipped? This shouldn't be a problem should it? I'm struggling to think as to what caused it - the tank only had guppies in no other fish.

 

[Annastasia]

Well, the one that is pregnant is very far along and very fat. Do you happen to have a picture of your's?

It shouldn't be a problem, just make sure it doesn't get infected or fungus-y. Guppies can be pretty good fin nippers, so I'm not surprised if that is it. Or she may have torn it on something. Or it could be tail rot. Is there brown edging around it?

 

[timmystood]

I haven't managed to get a photo because my camera is no good at taking photo's at nighttime. However, i've managed to get a quick film but major appologise in advance because the camera work is awful - The battery was nearly flat so I was rushing to show you all three of the new guppy's - however the white one got scared so you can only really see two, I focus on one in particular.

So, do you think she's pregnant (Even though the camera's awful!)

Here's the video.

HERE

 

[love_fish]

From that, I really cant tell, sorry. Maybe someone else with special powers can.

 

[timmystood]

Sorry! I know the camera work is awful!

 

[Annastasia]

First one, possibly, second one, probably, third one...I couldn't tell in the 2 second rush of panic

 

[Weaver]

It is very difficult to see anything properly.
However if the woman said that to you in the shop it would suggest that the guppies are not kept apart by the supplier so chances are that they are pregnant
That guppy in the pregnant picture is absolutely huge and none of my guppys have been as big as that before they had their fry.
Heres hoping

 

[timmystood]

Ahhh good! - So there's a really good chance that there pregnant. Since I put them in though they swam for about 5 mins and now all three just sit at the top of the tank - there still in the same spot they where with the video that was filmed about 30 mns ago!

There's a CAE (Chinease Algae Eater) in there so maybe he's the reason. - BUT i've got nowhere to put him! He's a real problem fish!

 

[Annastasia]

Well, from what I could see. I can't guarantee I'm right, but I'd say your second one has the best chance of being pregnant.

The CAE might be being aggressive to them...have they moved much at all? Did you add in more plants and caves and such?

Could you just take your CAE back to the store? If only you were in the US, I'd take him, as I'm setting up a 80g aggressive tank and he could go there...

 

[timmystood]

No, the store won't take him. I'm really at a loose end. He cannot go in either of my tanks and i've no one to take him.

The Guppies where moving loads for about 5 or 10 minutes and now there doing nothing. I've turned off the light for today in the hope their just settling down.

 

[Annastasia]

Hmmm...not even for free? But then I'd guess he'd go to someone else and they'd have the same problem. Sigh.

Yeah, they may just be settling in. How long did you acclimate for?

Oh yeah, and nitpick. I was reading your signature, and you spelled Siamese wrong. Sorry, I couldn't help myself!

 

[timmystood]

Ok thanks! I'll change the sig!

I put the bag in the tank for 15mins to let temperatures mix.
Then I put a cup full of tank water into the bag for another 15-20 mintues to let them get used to water chemisty - then I release into the tank.

 

[Annastasia]

Okay. Next time you might want to acclimate for a liiiitle longer, since Fancy Guppies aren't especially hardy anymore, but it's fine for now. Just keep the lights off for a while, let them adjust, and relax.