Why does my guppy have a big belly?

Grossly Swollen Belly

This is caused primarily by your fish's kidneys and/or gills that can't eliminate the water build-up from the fish's body.

Why is my guppy fat and bloated?

Overfeeding - Sometimes a fish may become fat or swollen as a result of his diet. Often, overfeeding or the wrong types of food can cause constipation and other digestive issues. You can try to feed your fish less or healthier types of food, which varies depending on the species of fish.

Why does my guppy look pregnant?

This dark spot is called a gravid patch and as the babies grow, this guppy gravid spot will increase in size while also becoming darker. In the final stages of pregnancy, this spot will become black and the guppy will look very bloated or fat. Other signs of pregnancy include: The fish's coloring will fade.

Is my guppy pregnant or just fat?

Their Belly Will Begin To Bulge

This shouldn't happen all at once, however, but gradually over a couple of weeks. However, just because your guppy's belly is bulging, it doesn't mean that they're pregnant. It could also be a sign of bloating, constipation, swim bladder disease, and possibly even dropsy in some cases.

How do you treat fish bloat?

Supplement the use of antibiotics with the addition of Epsom salt at a dose of 1 teaspoon per 5 to 10 gallons and by raising the temperature to 82 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Malawi bloat is usually treated with metronidazole. If the fish is still feeding, metronidazole-dosed foods can be used.

How to CURE Dropsy in Guppy Fish! Salt

Can dropsy go away on its own?

Keep the tank scrupulously clean, and perform weekly partial water changes. Provide a variety of fresh, high-quality food. Often this is enough to resolve the infection in cases that are not advanced. Keep the fish under observation for several weeks after symptoms disappear.

Is fish bloat contagious?

First, dropsy is not contagious. However, if one fish does become affected, other fish in the same fish aquarium — particularly those of the same species — could also be at risk. In such cases, the fish become affected one by one, until there's no more of that species left (or the causative issue gets resolved).

How do you cure a bloated guppy?

Add salt: Add 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water to the hospital tank. Low levels of salt in the water aid in the osmotic balance of the fish by making the water salinity closer to the fish's blood salinity. That helps the fish get rid of excess water accumulating in the body, causing dropsy.

How long is a guppy pregnant before giving birth?

The gestation period of a guppy is typically 21–30 days, but can vary considerably. The area where a pregnant guppy's abdomen meets the tail is sometimes called the "gravid patch", or "gravid spot".

Is my guppy in labor?

Try giving it some hiding spots with plants or other aquarium decorations. Constantly flexes her spin so the tail comes up, it may look like she is shivering or swimming in one place. She's having a contraction. Displays aggressive behavior like fin nipping and chasing when male tries to mate with her.

What do guppies look like when mating?

Guppy mating takes less than a second, and it looks just like he is stinging her at her vent where her gravid spot is located. This is the dark spot just behind the female's abdomen. Although the breeding is extremely quick, numerous breedings will take place to ensure the female has been fertilized.

What do guppies look like when giving birth?

The baby guppies are usually born curled into small balls, just as they matured in the female's womb in this compact shape. They will uncurl and begin swimming quickly, however, and newborn guppies often swim upward if they are very healthy. Unhealthy, premature or stillborn young will sink.

How can you tell if a fish is pregnant?

As your female fish becomes pregnant, she will grow a bulge at the back of her abdomen. This typically appears over the course of 20-40 days. Does your fish have a red or black spot? Sometimes, when a female fish is pregnant, she will develop a “gravid spot” on the abdomen.

Should I separate pregnant guppies?

If you have lots of live plants in your aquarium, you can be sure, that some of the fry will survive. However, if you want to save as many fry as possible, you need to remove the pregnant female guppy from the rest.

How do you take care of a pregnant guppy?

The further along your guppy is in her pregnancy, the less she will likely eat. Give her several small meals each day, and then just a small bit. You do not want leftover fish food floating around, so she should be able to finish what you give her in five minutes.

Why is my pregnant guppy sitting at the bottom of the tank?

It is not normal for guppies to lay on the bottom of the tank. In my experience, there are a number of reasons guppies lay on the bottom of the tank and these include illness, stress, and poor water quality. Pregnant females may also lay on the bottom of the tank prior to giving birth.

What helps a guppy with constipation?

Tinned peas are the classic laxative for most fish, either whole (in the case of species like goldfish) or squashed (for smaller species, such as bettas). Other good foods include plants (particularly Elodea and Egeria) and chitinous live foods (such as Daphnia and brine shrimp).

How long does a fish with dropsy live?

As often as not, the fish will live or die irrespective of drug treatment. Most often a fish with dropsy dies. Perhaps not immediately, but within several months. Indeed, in instances where dropsy is caused by internal infections, the bloating will disappear for a time, only to return a bit later with a vengeance.

Why did my fish get dropsy?

Causes. The symptoms collectively known as “dropsy” may be caused by a multitude of reasons. Poor water quality, viral infections, sudden changes in water conditions and a prolonged period of stress that may compromise the fish's immune system may all trigger said symptoms.

Should I euthanize my fish with dropsy?

Untreatable contagious diseases are probably the best reasons to consider euthanizing your fish, as sickness in such a small, confined space could easily spread to other healthy inhabitants. One of the most common diseases that has caused a lot of owners to consider euthanasia for their fish is the infamous dropsy.

Can humans get dropsy from fish?

Although fish and aquarium water can spread germs to people, illness due to keeping fish is rare. By giving routine care to your fish and their aquarium as well as following some simple health tips you are less likely to get sick from touching, feeding, or owning aquarium fish.