Female guppy hiding nearly 24/7

[melissasroja]

Hi there. I have a female guppy and for the last 5 days about she has been hiding in the log nearly all day. She does come out to eat but other than that she stays mostly hidden. The males are also tormenting her like crazy yet they rarely bother the other females in the tank. Her fins look fine and when she is out she eats great and swims just fine. Any advice or ideas as to what her issue could be? Thanks.

Melissa

 

[Jspigs]

My guess would be that she is trying to get away from the males tormenting her. If they are only tormenting her then I would move her ton another tank or find some other way to separate her from the males.

 

[finsNfur]

Yes, it could be that she's hiding from the males. Or, is she really pregnant? A lot of guppies will hide out when they are about to give birth, too. And welcome to AC.

 

[melissasroja]

I do think she is pregnant but she doesnt seem large enough to be ready yet. Her gravid spot is good sized but Ive defintiely seen bigger. Shes been with my males (and other females) for about 22 days now but she was with males already when I got her. Wouldnt she have given birth already after several days of hiding? What Ive been doing is just watching her in the daytime and at night putting her in a breeder in case she gives birth. I take her out in the daytime so she can get exercise. Ive also turned up the tank temp to around 82 degrees hoping that would help. When I go over to the tank she comes out and watches me until the males start bothering her and then its back into the log. I can put her in another tank but the problem is its still being cycled. See the plan is to let my female guppies, platy and molly have a batch of fry and them Im keeping all the males in one tank and all the females in another. I dont want to move the girls just yet though since the tank isnt ready. I could put her in with my african dwarf frogs but they will eat the fry if she gives birth and I definitely dont want to have that happen. Ill try to attach a few pics of her here if I can figure out how. Maybe that will help someone see something Im missing. The pics were taken two days ago and are mostly side shots.

 

[Jannika]

I had to separate my males from my one remaining female, they just wouldn't leave her alone even when she looked ready to pop. She's been knocked up since I got her and even now over a month later she still is, but after this she gets a long-deserved respite.

In the wild female guppies risk death to get away from the males.

 

[dundadundun]

she looks to be boxing off in the front... very close to birth. and, yes they can birth very young.

 

[melissasroja]

Thats so funny you say she is boxing off. I posted her pics two days ago to another board and several people told me she barely looks pregnant and has 3 weeks left to go. Im here thinking holy cow she looks pregnant to me! She seems to be coming out a bit more tonight and the males have turned their attention to another female. Hopefully she can relax some.

 

[TrumanL]

I think the males might want to eat the fry (when they are given birth)

 

[KarlTh]

I think the males might want to eat the fry (when they are given birth)

These are fish. They're not that clever. They don't think ahead and plan like that. Heavily pregnant females produce hormones that indicate to males that this is a damned good time to try to get their sperm in for the next brood.

 

[NYCguppydude]

I think the males might want to eat the fry (when they are given birth)

These are fish. They're not that clever. They don't think ahead and plan like that. Heavily pregnant females produce hormones that indicate to males that this is a damned good time to try to get their sperm in for the next brood.

You are both right! Males will harass females that are heavily pregnant and in the process of giving birth, and may well eat dropping fry. Its the best way to insure they will father the next brood,and pass down their genes.