Help Needed:My First post;Help me if my Red Platy is swollen

[Shane]

Hi people this is my first post ever on this website and will think about continuing depending on the response about this post. I was googling about this problem and fibd copule of useful threads from this website so hopefully I'll get an answer.

I have three Red platies and one male red platy . Now one of my female red palty is swollen like a ball (no squares or anything), just swollen like a ball from the stomach for more than two weeks.

I am not sure whether it is about to give birth or its due to some diease sickness. She was perfectly flat like others two but now she have a big round stomach. Please try to help me from looking at these worst quality pictures from my cell phone (sorry digital camera was too far), whether my red platy is pregnant or just near death. I am attaching a couple of pictures mostly of teh red platy alone but there is one in which two other females are at the bottom corner and the swollen one is on the top right. You 'll be able to see while swollen stomach easily.

If you guys for any good valid reason think that the fish is near birth time please provide how long will she me more in this condition with swollen stomach.

Also people say that you see black eyes in teh stomach if she is preg., I didn't see any yet . Also tehy say it have a black thing near anal opening....all my fishes (platies) are black near the anal opening , I mean i couldn't find anything unsual other than a big swollen stomach which looks like as it is about to burst.

Help me with your suggestions by looking at the pictures. I need help as this is my first experience with platies and don't want a beautiful fish to die if she is sick.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1577/27092006202mj4.jpg

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/4669/27092006205iq0.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9474/27092006208np9.jpg

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7466/27092006210hf0.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3969/27092006203mt9.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/8840/04092006194pg7.jpg

[t_chelle16]

Just looks pregnant to me. I don't see any scales sticking out like you'd see with dropsy. Is she still active & eating and pooping normally?

Oh, and your pictures were huge. I changed them all to links so this thread wouldn't take so long to load and you wouldn't have to scroll sideways to read the posts.

-Chelle

[Shane]

Thanks a lot t_chelle16 for reply. First of all for images, I am really sorry for those huge images as it was my first post so had no info of some good website that can make them smaller and resize. but thanks anyway and next time I'll make sure they are all appropriate size.

Getting good response form the forum so far. I think I can make lot of friends here. Good job done in maintaining forum.

Now back to main topic. She is perfectly active , healthy , normal pooping and just like a my normal other 2 platies. Hyperactive , I would say. The only thing I am upset is with the stomach growing bigger without any eyes of any fries seen there if she is about to give birth. Do you ahve any idea how long there bellies keep swollen before the fries come out because here I am watching her for around two weeks with such swollen stomach.

Thanks for your time.

[t_chelle16]

I believe the gestation is something like 3 weeks. That said, I've never actually kept/bred platies, but with my female mollies & guppies, they were pretty much constantly pregnant and constantly fat.

-Chelle