That will prevent other fish from harassing the vulnerable guppy and potentially cause a miscarriage. Well here are some signs that might help you: Several factors will determine the exact range. Factors related to birthing complications and the external environment can cause a female guppy's death once she gives birth. The male was about 4 to 6 weeks old. The female guppy gives birth to 20-60 fry at a time. You should separate the females from any males in the tank which are related to them to help prevent inbreeding amoungst them- the more you let each generation inbreed with each other, the . Breeder boxes require precise timing. You can never know what will happen in the main tank. After the first 6 weeks, it's okay to decrease your feedings to every 4-5 hours, which will be 3-4 times per day. Although, the female guppy may still be pregnant if the water temperature is too cold. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'fishkeepingplanet_com-banner-1','ezslot_10',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingplanet_com-banner-1-0');Another option is to place her in a breeder box that hangs on the side of your original fish tank. It's why you must know how to tell if guppies are pregnant. Usually, a female guppy will be pregnant for one month before giving birth to the fry. Separate the pregnant guppy As soon as you came to know that your pregnant guppy female is in labor, separate it in another tank. You can leave her there until she gives birth. Maintaining the appropriate conditions in an aquarium with one fish is so much easier. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. That will allow the fry to escape to the other side of the tank. Everything will have an impact, from the temperature of the water to the supply of nutrients. What have you found works best for a breeding tank setup? Mating is quick and may occur multiple times to ensure insemination. I volunteer at my local fish shop and I created this site to offer tips and advice on the fish I care for. In this way, the pregnant guppy will not be stressed as she is still essentially in the same water as her home aquarium. My name is Gilad, a 29-year-old fish fanatic from Israel. Stage 5. While a separate tank is easiest, there are mesh pieces you can purchase to hang either in the birthing tank or community tank to keep the fry safe. Yeah, I know it seems like a waste of money and all the investment for a new tank and cycle, but in the long run, it is worth it. In addition to a good quality flake food, consider supplementing with the following live or frozen foods: A typical birth can take anywhere from two to six hours. Once the fry has grown a little bit the other fish will not see them as food. The average age for first breeding is between three to five months. Luckily for us, a type of beneficial bacteria (BB) grows in the filter media. Guppies are generally pregnant for 21 to 31 days. To help guppy fry thrive and have the best chance of survival you should. In fact, they actually give birth to live fish. Helping your guppy to fulfill her goal of reproduction is an exciting and fun process to be a part of. Another way to tell if your guppy is pregnant is by watching how other fish react to her. How long is a guppy in labor? After returning her to the community tank, remember that a female can become pregnant multiple times from a single insemination. During pregnancy, female guppies will develop a big rounded belly. she will nonstop be bothered by the males who I'm sure are stressing her out already. The female guppy's belly will bulge Also if you see them swimming / shaking in the same spot this is another common sign. That means the eggs develop inside the womb before the female gives birth to fully-formed babies. Tetra Fish Care is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When the big day is almost here, the spot will go . The male guppy will chase the female around the tank. How Do You Know When A Guppy Is Going To Give Birth? A healthy guppy will respond negatively to poor conditions. So it is possible to provide a safer environment for moms as well as for children. Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are a fascinating fish breed. After reading this guide, you shouldnt have any trouble! Towards the end of the pregnancy, guppies will also go through some involuntary actions. 5 Reasons Guppies Die After Giving Birth. If you wait too long, the fry (baby guppies) may be born in the main tank and become prey for other fish or get sucked into the filter. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'helpusfish_com-sky-4','ezslot_30',655,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-helpusfish_com-sky-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'helpusfish_com-sky-4','ezslot_31',655,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-helpusfish_com-sky-4-0_1');.sky-4-multi-655{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}You should ideally separate or isolate the female guppy from other fish a few days after you notice they are pregnant. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'helpusfish_com-leader-4','ezslot_13',647,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-helpusfish_com-leader-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'helpusfish_com-leader-4','ezslot_14',647,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-helpusfish_com-leader-4-0_1');.leader-4-multi-647{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Some times guppies become more aggressive when pregnant, this is because their motherly instinct is kicking in and they want to protect their young. Guppy fry can be kept safe in the breeding box in a large aquarium. Between 40 and 80 babies are usually given birth to in an uncomplicated labor affair. As soon as your female guppy gives birth, its safe to put her back in the original tank with the others. How many babies youll end up with depends on many different factors. A female guppy can store sperm from one insemination for up to a year and can become pregnant up to eight times from that single event! Wait until the female gives birth to the young ones and immediately remove the female from the breeding tank as well. Once you notice that your female guppy is pregnant, remove her from the community tank to a separate breeding tank. If any fish come near her during this time she will most likely charge at them to drive them away. Males will chase females that are close to giving birth so they can make them pregnant again. Common signs. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Realizing that your guppy is pregnant can be exciting. There are many ways to tell that you have a pregnant guppy on your hands. When a female guppy is pregnant you can expect some behavior changes which will include. Stress in a tank has numerous sources, and the most prominent is poor water conditions. The best time to separate pregnant guppy fish is when you see the gravid spot darken in color. Its best to do this around two weeks before they give birth. You dont need a big tank to separate the female. Once the guppies have been separated, they can be kept in separate tanks to prevent breeding. Guppy Gestation Period The gestation period for female guppies is typically less than one month but can range from 21 to 31 days. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. It will become darker and larger as the babies grow. In most normal circumstances, the guppy birthing process takes between two and six hours, but if the mother is having difficulty, it can take up to 12 hours for all the fry to be delivered. The babies that pregnant guppies give birth to are kind of like small adults and are already almost fully developed once they are birthed. Tobi Schneider This fact is important because it impacts how the fish breed. It has been 2 days in the new tank and she's eating well but swimming weirdly. As soon as you are able to see these differences in your female guppy you will want to separate her as soon as possible. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'helpusfish_com-portrait-1','ezslot_25',653,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-helpusfish_com-portrait-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'helpusfish_com-portrait-1','ezslot_26',653,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-helpusfish_com-portrait-1-0_1');.portrait-1-multi-653{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}So if your guppy has gone past day 30 and had not given birth do not worry. To measure the pH, ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites, I personally use the API Water Test Kit (link to Amazon). If your guppy is pregnant, shell have a bulge in her abdomen thats noticeable when compared to other guppies. This is necessary as she may eat the fry, seeking the nourishment she needs to recover. They are relatively easy to care for and are suitable for those new to aquarium keeping. How many days is a guppy pregnant? You should also remove the male mollies. Another reason behind this behavior is stress. This usually happens 24-48 hours before the fish gives birth. Additionally, the more fish you have, the more ammonia they produce. . Give her several small meals each day, and then just a small bit. {6 Reasons Why Guppies Blow Bubbles}. One thing to know when keeping guppies is that they are prolific breeders and are capable of bearing up to 2,000 young in the lifetime of a single female. Caring for the Fry Guppy fish are hardy, but they can still be picky. Guppies can give birth in standard tropical tank conditions, but things need to remain stable to ensure the mothers health. guppy fish are in the breeding trap or box, end the separation when the guppy fry is big enough. The male guppys passion is good because it compels the males to inseminate multiple females, increasing the number of fry your female guppies will generate. Do guppies like hard or soft water? Learning how to tell if a guppy fish is pregnant isnt challenging. This way, the tiny fry will escape to the other side of the tank. Species such as cichlids, angelfish, and Endlers livebearers are dangerous to guppies.[4]. Hopefully these photos will help others to determine how far along their pregnant guppy is and when she might be due. You should put a pregnant guppy in a breeder box roughly three weeks in to their pregnancy. Answer (1 of 5): If you wish to keep and raise the fry, get to your nearest petshop right away and buy a breeding separation tank (normally clear plastic box that floats around the top of your tank) and very carefully move the fry into this box. If a pregnant guppy manages to stay alive in a tank with other fish, the fry she births will most likely be eaten. It would help if you prepared a breeding trap or a breeding box as soon as you see that your guppy fish is pregnant. The female will go into labor, breathing heavily and hiding. If you are keeping female and male guppies together, most likely female guppies are pregnant, unless they are infertile. Female guppies are in labor for between 2 and 8 hours. Need some advise.