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Title: one of my guppies has a saddle back
Description: is this normal


aqua-pombiki - June 27, 2005 04:54 PM (GMT)
heres a pic its not the best but is all i could get

platy_addict - June 28, 2005 02:24 AM (GMT)
That's a bent spine, can be from too small of a tank or over crowding... looks prego!!
~krys

aqua-pombiki - June 28, 2005 05:54 PM (GMT)
its in a 20gal. with 2 fancy goldfish and only 5 other guppies

platy_addict - June 30, 2005 02:36 AM (GMT)
I also read that it can be from a bacteria in the intestines? have to do some more reading though... was it that way when you got it?
or get that way over time?

aqua-pombiki - June 30, 2005 02:51 AM (GMT)
over time and i cant remaber but i might even be one of my fry that i raised ?

platy_addict - June 30, 2005 06:11 PM (GMT)
Well I have been looking all over the net for you, and have found that the bent spine thing is caused by any of three things... Malnutrition, which can be OVER feeding or not enough of some nutrients that flake foods cannot supply, try cucumber or zucchini(sp) or I use AZOO Guppy vitamins. Tuberculosis, which is more common in guppies that people think, and in most cases doesn't strike a whole tank, usually one or two fish. Or, it could just be genetics, as with people, some of us will get a hump back and others will be fine!
These were all from different web sites, however, i just searched "bent spine guppy" and these were the answers that I got.

I hope that this has helped you!
Let me know!
~Krys

kimo - August 6, 2005 06:53 PM (GMT)
Sometimes a bent back can be caused by breeding a female that is younger than 3 months. Their bones are still soft and haven't grown out enough to make the spine stiff. A big belly pulls all the flesh towards the back and bottom. One they are old enough and have stiffened up they take on the appearance of a bent spine. Getting hit with the net while they are fry can also cause it. If it's caused by disease... then nothing can be done. You don't want it as a breeder because you can't be positive unless you have a full lab at your disposal,... was it hit, disease, too young to breed, diet??? Better to get rid of it, use it as a feeder, put it in the cull tank because it is not going to get better and you do not want these genes passed down. Only one fish is affected now; in 3 or 4 generations every female could all have bent backs. What then? :omg:

OrkyBetta - August 7, 2005 08:54 PM (GMT)
Did you buy her like this or did she just become like this? If it's the first one it could be an overcrowded tank she was in there, or imbreeding. If it's the latter, it could be TB.

mango4jade - August 12, 2005 02:18 PM (GMT)
I've been line breeding guppies for a few years now...and it seems lots of females when pregnant are like this. Or some extreme cases, they are born like that. Cannot be fixed, shouldnt use for breeding, but still make good pets ;) Many people seem to cull them, but I just give to out to people for free.

aqua-pombiki - August 13, 2005 01:52 AM (GMT)
well i dont have to worry about her any more she just kinda disapeared. i think she died from getting picked on by the others and then eaten by the two gold fish in the tank. but thanks for all the info every one




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