Random Guppy Death...

[sudz]

So yesterday, i noticed a small chunk missing out of my HEAVILY pregnant Guppy, and blamed my Betta. I put him in isolation in a bowl until i can get him a 1 or 2.5 gallon kit. The bowl is ontop of my 44 gallon, and the water stays at about 76, so he should be dandy.

HOWEVER, i came home from school today, and the female guppy was DEAD and starting to bloat. I squeezed very lightly to see if i could get babys out (i was nieve) and that was that.

Now, tell me if my theory could be correct: Guppies will hold onto their babies if they are stressed/feel it is unsafe... Having the betta in there had more of an effect than i thought, and the mother wouldn't let her babies go, ultimately stressing her to the point of death? She still was eating, swimming fine, and generally active. I just noticed her resting on my sponge scrubber at the top of the tank more often (which she did the last two times she was pregnant)


Anyway, I have 8 heathy, Colored (but not full grown) guppies. Some even have their mating spot visible now. PM me if interested. they're about... 15 weeks old.

Oh, i dosed with melafix last night to fix her fin damage. In vain :-(

... I'm not having a good fish week :-|

[Zagz]

Sorry to hear that. I had 3 deaths this week. Must be something in the air.

Livebearer's will hold their fry, the prescence of the betta may have caused them to stress.

[PauloSilva]

it must be in the air because i had 3 guppy deaths aswell. Params are great and they is no known parasite. just random deaths...