When Is She Just Shy, And When Is She Near Giving Birth?

[JollieMollie]

I have a female who is pretty pregnant; she isn't very fat but she has been pregnant for several weeks now I believe; ever since I've had her. Recently she has been hanging out near the bottom more, eating only fallen flake foods not food off the surface, and generally staying to herself. I hear that's a sign she's near birth, but I recently added another molly so although that doesn't seem like much I wonder if the new activity just made her shy? How can you tell? I wouldn't care uch, as long as seh's healthy, except that given that I have five mollies and three guppies I'd like to put her in a breeding trap right before she drops if possible so I can save a few fry.


I'm sorry for asking all the questions lately! I feel like such a newbie. I never knew I had so many questions until I had somewhere to ask them, now I want to know everything!

 

[slipperysucker]

Hi! Im also new to livebearers. But what I have learned over a very short time and reading different websites has amazed me. I also have a very similar problem. I know of one thing that would bloat your fish and make her slow, pale and stringy poos....intestinal worms!!!!!!!!!! Yes fish can get worms too, as I learned a few weeks back. NOT Nice...can you see anything hanging from your fish's anus? This could be a worm called camallanus it is prone to livebearers and is a livebearing worm itself, which means the spawn stay inside the fish for up to 3 months before a female is large enough to protrude from the anul passage and drop spawn in the bottom of tank...thereafter fish will eat from the bottom and the cycle continues until complete treatment. The worm lives on the fishs blood therefore making the weak, pale and lethargic. Ive read the worm can cause so much internal damage...I had a fish with one of these worms...i kept her alone in a tank but decided it was better to cull her as she was slowely being eaten from the inside.

Im not sure this is your problem....as there are alot of diseases fish get and a few with those symptoms. It might help to research a few websites and forums here.
I have posted something today also.... No Fry! Why? Perhaps you would like to read and see if you can relate?

Cheers and good luck!!! Fish are complicated little critters...Ive culled 5 of my guppies this week due to symptoms hiding, slow, pale etc etc etc...all mine though ive just purchased last week...obviously a supplier problem Id say.

 

[slipperysucker]

I have a female who is pretty pregnant; she isn't very fat but she has been pregnant for several weeks now I believe; ever since I've had her. Recently she has been hanging out near the bottom more, eating only fallen flake foods not food off the surface, and generally staying to herself. I hear that's a sign she's near birth, but I recently added another molly so although that doesn't seem like much I wonder if the new activity just made her shy? How can you tell? I wouldn't care uch, as long as seh's healthy, except that given that I have five mollies and three guppies I'd like to put her in a breeding trap right before she drops if possible so I can save a few fry.


I'm sorry for asking all the questions lately! I feel like such a newbie. I never knew I had so many questions until I had somewhere to ask them, now I want to know everything!

Hi again....your fish could be just ready to drop...but when you said she had been pregnant for several weeks it made me think again. Generally livebears drop every 28-40 days and carry fry at different rates per fish and age. The best thing to do is keep an eye on her...and if she fails to drop fry within a week or so and still slow etc...I would refer to fish diseases and try finding the best treatment...I have also learned that isnt easy either...seems trial and error and loads of research to diagnose correctly.

GL

 

[theotheragentm]

Four weeks is generally accepted as the duration of pregnancy in common livebearers. How large is she? Do you have a picture?