Guppy diet

Question
A couple of months ago I thought that the spines of the older guppies looked a little bent compared to when I bought them. Maybe it was just my imagination--or do fish get osteoporosis? I haven't been varying their diet (Omega-1 flakes) or adding supplements.

It occurs to me that pregnancy could rob a fish of vitamins and minerals, including calcium.  

Answer
Hi Janet,
The bent spines in your guppies is something that I have seen a lot with the guppies that I have raised. It is a natural tendancy for many fish to develop a somewhat bent spine as they get up to a ripe old age. I don't believe fish get osteoporosis but like with all creatures, as they age their immune system tends to go down and the bent or slightly curved back tends to be very common.

You are feeding your guppies very well with the excellent Omega 1 flakes. This is just about the best food available out there and what's even better is to supplement with frozen, freeze dried, and tablet foods like Algae wafers as well.

Although very few people consider it. I agree with you that pregnancy in a fish could certainly drain them of calcium and vitamins. In my experience it seems female guppies who are not producing babies their entire life live longer and are healtheir than the females who are dropping batches of young fry every month of their entire lives. I feel it's best that female guppies should get a break from or better yet, be retired from fry-producing before they reach their maximum lifespan. Constantly producing babies as you know, drains livebearing fish and stresses them greatly.

But if kept under control. You can still have healthy, long-lived guppies and have large batches of fry as long you always remember to do things in moderation.

I really hope this helps!
Only my very best wishes and happy holidays!
Karen~