CHELSEA BOY

Can anyone help? My tank has been up and running for 7 weeks and doing well. I have, amongst others, 6 Cherries in the tank 2 male, 4 female. One of the females has developed a very large abdomen, question...is she pregnant or is it something more sinister? No fish Acting abnormally.

Barbrella

As long as her scales aren't sticking out and she's having no trouble swimming, I'd say she's probably full of eggs. My big females often look as though they've swallowed a beachball!

Here's an example:

Attached Images

fatbarb.jpg (39.1 KB, 21 views)

CHELSEA BOY

Thanks for that, No trouble swimming and no scales sticking out! I guess the panic is over?

Isabella

LOL, same here!

And Barbrella is right, if the fish behaves, looks, and eats normally, and the scales are not sticking out, it's probably just pregant. If the scales are sticking out, then that's a very bad sign.

I've gotta tell you that of all the fish I've ever had, pregnant female Cherry Barbs were/are the fattest! They just become so big and round, lol. They look like they're about to explode!

Barbrella

Usually they'll spawn after a big water change, and they like to spawn on plants.

It's quite lovely to see and if you have enough hiding places and plants, some babies may survive!

Isabella

I never got to see my Cherry Barbs spawning, but they certainly are spawning all the time. The "fertile" female is getting full of eggs regularly. And yes, the babies may sometimes miraculously survive if you have lots of hiding spots in a tank with other fish that can eat them - I am guessing this (the plants) is what had saved my baby Cherry Barb. It was hiding among dense Vallisnerias

P.S. Barbrella, that's such a beautiful picture of your Cherry Barb female

CHELSEA BOY

O.K People, back to the Fat Cherry Barb question....How long would a pregnant Cherry Barb stay pregnant?.....Been an awfully long time and no action from either males or females?!