how do you know when an endler (live bearing fish) is pregnant and not just fat?

Answer 1

Just like Fancy Guppies they develop a gravid spot or dark area at the end of their stomach. This female is slightly pregnant

http://www.geocities.com/endlers_livebearer/images/female.jpg

Hope that helps

MM

Answer 2

It is very hard to tell in the beginning, but when she is further along, it is easier. There are ultrasounds for our fishy friends so there is no real fool-proof way. Look at some pictures of pregnant fish and normally you can tell the difference. Just like pregnant women look different from fat ones. A fish usually doesn't get too large. So if she's humongous, shes probably pregnant.

Has she been in contact with a male? You can easily sex live bearing fish. If you are unsure how, feel free to email me or do a quick google search but you seem to know some about live bearers.

The best method I have found is to look on their lower section for a black or brown spot. It is called a gravid spot and if you look close enough you should see tiny eyes. The group together forming the spot. If it is a guppy however, i have found this method doesn't work as well. Many of my guppies have those spots but are not pregnant. The color of the gravid spot can sometimes be used to know how close the fish is to giving birth. A good rule of thumb is the darker, the sooner.

Also keep in mind that if she is pregnant, fish can house sperm and can continue to have batches of baby's. A guppy of mine had 6 more batches after being separated!

Good luck and hope the best for your (maybe) fry! Please tell me everything turns out.

Answer 3

You can always tell when a live bearing fish is preganant. Just look at the stomach and if it is going dark then the fish is full of fry which she will give birth to about 28 days after she have done her deeds with a male fish

Answer 4

i dont know about the endler exactly but in my time of having fish the diff between fat and preg are simple, a fish can get bigger and bigger but always stay in proportion. if pregnant their belly gets massive compared to rest of body, u can just see they pregnant. if they just got suddenly really big...it simply grew. much luv xxxx