Well, blow me

[dwarfgourami]

and, above all, never ever trust me as a diagnostician!

In a previous very dejected thread I told how my favourite platy whom I had suspected had worms was going downhill, hiding in the corner, grossly bloated, and finally attacked by the young male guppy, a sure sign that death was imminent.

We were going on our annual camping trip to the New Forest, and there was nothing I could do for her. I knew I ought to have the moral courage to follow Wilder’s advice and euthanize her, but time was short and I couldn’t key myself up. So I put her in a breeding net, with a plant, so she should at least be allowed to die with dignity. A last look seemed to suggest that she was beginning to pinecone, but the family were stamping at the door. So, having told our daughter to say goodbye to Smudge ("she may not be here when wwe get back"), we rushed off to the station reached the platform at the same time as the train.

I lay awake in my sleeping-bag at night (freezing cold in the Forest this time of year!) and grieved for poor little Smudge, thinking I should have been able to do more for her. My daughter told me she wanted her to be buried, not just binned “because she was special”.

Got back home, dreading the sight, told the children to stay downstairs until I’d checked the tank, and …

well, you’ve probably guessed it, folks. Smudge was sitting in her breeding net, with a round dozen of fry and the smug expression of someone who’s had rather a good lunch.

I am not sure we are home and dry yet, Smudge does look a bit under the weather and may not be long for this world, but at least she is a lot slimmer and no sign of pine-coning, they must have been stretch-marks! And she sure has left a legacy!

 

[Annastasia]

I love happy stories. That is great!

Though, it is common for hugely pregnant fish to get dropsy. Guppies get it a lot. But, as you found out, it goes away once they have fry. If she still looks dull, that can be understood...giving birth is hard work! Try feeding her some good, high-protein foods, like Bloodworms, Brine Shrimp, Tubifex worms, etc. Frozen, Freeze-dried, or Live is fine. Keep in mind not to feed too much, though, as too much can cause constipation, bloating, and bad water quality. It's best to alternate with flakes and things like that.

Congrats on the fry though!

 

[ClaireN]

Hello

Just wanted to ask how Smudge is doing, hope she is still recovering well
How are her babies doing? cute i bet

 

[dwarfgourami]

Thanks for asking. The babies are absolutely gorgeous, and getting more adventurous every day. The adult fish have given up trying to catch them; they get too confused with 3 different batches in the tank.

Smudge is so-so. I had to put her back in the breeder net as she was just clearly very unhappy with the attention from her tankmates. She seems calmer there but just not doing a lot. She is eating and producing normal faeces, but keeping very still and stands for hours just under the surface. Every morning I expect her to be dead, but she is still hanging on, and I feel I can't do anything other than I am doing. She needs to be in peace, and eventually I suppose I'll know which way things are going.

 

[ClaireN]

Smudge is so-so. I had to put her back in the breeder net as she was just clearly very unhappy with the attention from her tankmates. She seems calmer there but just not doing a lot. She is eating and producing normal faeces, but keeping very still and stands for hours just under the surface. Every morning I expect her to be dead, but she is still hanging on, and I feel I can't do anything other than I am doing. She needs to be in peace, and eventually I suppose I'll know which way things are going.

[snapback]915837[/snapback]​

Hope she pulls through, but your right you will know in your heart when enough is enough but dont give upon her, im sure you wont, sounds like you care about her alot. I know i get very attached to some of my fish, think my boyfriend thinks im nuts n they are just fish

 

[afireinside]

Ahh... that's a nice story. Glas she's alive and well.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Awww that's wonderful. No, don't give up on her. Obviously it could just be age catching up on her or just not getting over the pregnancy and birth very well. She may well pull through and live a good while yet.
Hugs,
P.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Well, she is still not looking healthy- but then she's not dead either. I still keep her in the breeder net, but yesterday managed to persuade my husband she needs a smallish hospital tank for herself. If only my daughter's back could clock back into action (she has a joint disorder), I would be off to town like a shot and get one.