Pregnant guppy about to pop??? (pics)

[Nadine]

:help:

OK... my niece has a billion fancy guppies and decided to bring two to my boys. She brought one male and one female. We've had them now for a little over two weeks.
The female of course, is pregnant.

For the last two or three days she's not eaten and been laying on the bottom under the plants and the color on her fins is very vibrant and now covers most if her tail fin, where before she only had a small yellow strip down the center. (The pics show the yellow center stripe, which has now returned to her entire fin after settling down from being transfered to the box) From everything I've read, she is about to give birth. So I went and got a breeding box and put her in it this morning.

How long can I leave her in the box without stressing her out too badly??

Also, early this morning she tore her dorsal fin trying to get away from the male. Ouch! She seems to still swim just fine... and fast! I'm sure my niece did not know that she should have brought more than one female, and I tried to get another from the pet store, but they are out. My niece lives about 3 hours away, or I would just get more from her. Anyway... will the fin tear cause Mama any problems??

I really appreciate the wealth of knowledge here! Thanks in advance for your replies!
http://www.sellersourcebook.net/users/6930/mama1.jpg
http://www.sellersourcebook.net/users/6930/mama2.jpg

[jm1212]

she isnt really that big yet, especially for livebearers. platy and swordtail females get so big you coudve sworn they swallowed a a rock that was almost as big as them. once the dark, round spot appears around her anal fin, she will be ready to give birth.

as for the male, thats just how male guppis are. they ALWAYS want to reproduce, and often chase around the females.

[musho3210]

ok first, dont use those breeding box thing, they just stress the fish too much, second, you need more females, a good ratio is 1 male to 3 females but at least 1 male to 2 females. Otherwise the horny male wont stop at anything to get some.

Get lots of plastic plants and make sort of a forest, this will help more fry survive.