How To Tell If My Guppy Is Pregnant?
Guppy fish are among the most popular choices for aquarium enthusiasts due to their vibrant colors, hardyness, and how fast they breed. Guppies are also called million fish because of how fast they breed. Understanding when a guppy is pregnant is important for providing the right care for both the mother and fry. Recognizing a guppy pregnant is key for timely care and preparation. This guide will walk you through the physical and behavioral signs of pregnancy in guppies.
| Main Topic | Sub-Topics |
| Introduction | Importance of identifying a pregnant guppy |
| Understanding Guppy Reproduction | Overview of guppy fish breeding |
| Physical Changes in a Pregnant Guppy | Changes in body shape, gravid spot, and coloration |
| Behavioral Changes During Pregnancy | Changes in swimming patterns, feeding habits, and interactions with other fish |
| Stages of Guppy Pregnancy | Different stages and their characteristics |
| Observing the Gravid Spot | What is the gravid spot and how does it change? |
| Changes in Body Shape | How the belly and overall body shape change during pregnancy |
| Feed what to Pregnant Guppy | Adjustments to feeding and nutrition during pregnancy |
| Behavioral Indicators of Pregnancy | How social behavior can signal pregnancy |
| Protecting a Pregnant Guppy | How to create a safe environment for a pregnant guppy |
| Monitoring for Health Issues | Common health concerns during guppy pregnancy and how to address them |
| Preparing for Guppy Fry | Steps to take before the birth of guppy fry |
Understanding Guppy Reproduction
Guppies are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live fry rather than laying eggs. This reproductive strategy is common among many aquarium fish. This also make them develop faster as a fry, since they don’t have to wait the process of being hatched. Unlike most fish that lay eggs which hatch outside the body, guppies' fry hatch inside the mother and are born live, immediately swimming freely. The guppy fry will start eating to gain nessarary protein to grow once they are born. The female guppy can store sperm from males for several months, allowing her to give birth multiple times from a single mating session.
Most fish reproduce by laying eggs that hatch outside their bodies, but guppies are unique in giving birth to live young.
Physical Changes in a Pregnant Guppy
The most apparent physical sign of pregnancy in guppies is a change in body shape. As the fry develop inside her, the female’s abdomen will gradually expand, becoming more pronounced as she nears birth. The guppy may start to look a bit fat, and even a bit of swelling can be an early sign of pregnancy.
You may also notice a darkening of the gravid spot, a key point to watch for pregnancy progression. This small area located near the rear of the fish becomes more visible as the pregnancy progresses.
Observing the Gravid Spot
The gravid spot is a key indicator of pregnancy in female guppies. This dark spot, located near the base of the anal fin, darkens and enlarges as the fry grow. As the guppy gets close to giving birth, the gravid spot may turn dark brown, signaling that delivery is near. When a guppy is about to give birth, you may also see the fry's eyes through the darkened gravid spot. During this time, you should separate her immediately.
Coloration Changes
In addition to the gravid spot, some pregnant guppies may show changes in overall coloration. Though, changing body color is very rare in most cases, the best indicator are always darkened Gravid Spot aswell as the Boxy shape
Female Guppy Behaviors when She is about to Pop (Give Birth)
Pregnant guppies often have noticeable behavioral changes when they are about to give birth. These changes can include altered swimming patterns, changes in feeding behavior, and shifts in how they interact with other fish in the tank. As she nears giving birth, she'll often isolate herself or display specific behaviors, such as hiding or moving to quieter areas of the tank.
Less Interaction with Other Fish
Pregnant guppies may also become more reclusive or aggressive towards other fish. This change in behavior is typically a protective measure, as the pregnant guppy instinctively seeks to safeguard herself and her unborn fry from potential threats.
This is more visible when she is about to give birth in the next day or a few hours. The mom will often hide alone in the corner of a tank, which is a common behavior just before the drop. Separating herself from the rest of the group is a sign that the drop is near. At this stage, Seperate her into a breeder box or a seperate container immediately.
A personal trick from raising guppy myself: You can also just seperate a female guppy that’s about to give birth in a container without breeder box set up. Keep her well fed and she won’t eat any of her fry when she pops. After the drop, the mom may need some time to recover. Always change the water after giving birth, giving birth will posion the water.
Here are some breeder boxes we use to seperate pregnate females:
Stages of Guppy Pregnancy
Guppy pregnancy typically lasts between 21 to 30 days, though this can vary depending on water conditions, temperature, and the individual fish. The pregnancy can be divided into distinct stages, each characterized by specific physical and behavioral changes. Observing these changes helps you monitor the health and progress of your pregnant fish.
In the early stages, you might notice a slight swelling of the abdomen and the faint development of the gravid spot. During this time, the guppy will continue to behave normally, with no significant changes in her routine.
As the pregnancy progresses into the mid-stage, the abdomen will become more noticeably swollen, and the gravid spot will darken. The guppy may start to slow down and spend more time resting.
When a pregnant guppy is about to give birth. The abdomen will appear boxy or squared, and the gravid spot will be very dark. The guppy may become more reclusive, and her behavior will indicate that she is preparing to give birth. At this stage, you can expect the number of fry to vary, depending on the guppy's age, health, and genetics. Usually the older the female is, the more fry she will give birth to. Once you abserve the pregnant female having behaviors suchs as breathing on the surface, hiding by herself. Seperate her into a guppy breeder box right away.
What to feed to pregnant guppy
During pregnancy, it's important to make sure that your guppy is receiving proper nutrition. A balanced diet that includes high-quality flake food, supplemented with live or frozen foods like brine shrimp or daphnia, will provide the necessary nutrients.
We personally use Live baby brine shrimp to feed all of our pregnant females, as it provide the highest level of protein to support the development of the fry
Protecting a Pregnant Guppy
Creating a safe and stress-free environment is crucial for a pregnant guppy. Pregnancy is a significant event in a guppy's life and requires careful attention to her needs to support her health and well-being. Stress can lead to complications or even premature birth, so it’s important to minimize disruptions and potential threats in the tank.
You can create a safe environment for her by adding live plants, many hidings spots and removing any fish that is acting agressively towards the pregnant fish.
You can use items such as plants, rocks, or breeding boxes to create a safe environment. These will allow the pregnant guppy to retreat and feel secure as she prepares to give birth. Aquatic grass, such as Java moss, Hornwort, Guppy Grass, is especially effective for providing cover for fry and creating a safe environment for newborn guppies.
Avoid sudden changes in water temperature, pH, or tankmates during pregnancy. It's also wise to monitor the interactions between the pregnant guppy and other fish, particularly if you have more aggressive species in the tank.
Monitoring for Health Issues
Pregnancy can put a strain on a guppy's health, so it's important to monitor for any signs of illness or distress. Common issues include dropsy, fin rot, or stress-induced premature birth.
Signs of health issues include lethargy, loss of appetite, visible parasites, or unusual swimming patterns. If you notice any of these symptoms, it may be helpful to learn about the best temperature for guppy health. You can also read our article here about how to treat guppy health issues
Preparing for Guppy Fry
As the birth date approaches, it’s important to prepare for the arrival of the guppy fry. This includes setting up a nursery or breeding tank to protect the fry from being eaten by other fish in the main tank. You may be wondering how many babies to expect—guppies typically give birth to anywhere from 20 to 50 fry at a time, though this number can vary depending on the age, health, and size of the mother, as well as environmental conditions.
If this is the first time a guppy giving birth, you can expect anywhere between 15-25 depending on the size of her belly. Second time will be around 20-30. Between Third to 6th you can expect anywhere between 25 - 60. I would not recommend letting any female older than 8 month to be pregnant again as this would impact her health alot. This also affact the genetics of the offsprings, older female would pass down less vabrint colors.
A breeding tank should be well-planted and provide plenty of cover for the fry. You can use a commercial breeding box within the main tank or set up a separate tank entirely. The water conditions should match those of the main tank to reduce stress on the pregnant guppy.
The Birth Process
When the time comes, the female guppy will often retreat into dense plants or secluded corners of the tank. The actual birth usually takes between 2 to 6 hours, during which she will give birth to live young, known as fry. As each fry is born, it will instinctively swim upward to gulp air and fill its swim bladder, then quickly seek shelter among plants or other hiding places to avoid being eaten by other fish.
Post-Birth Care
Once your female guppy has given birth, the focus shifts to ensuring the health and survival of both the mother and her fry. The first priority is to provide a nutritious diet for the young guppies. Newly hatched fry benefit greatly from high-protein foods like live or frozen brine shrimp, which help them grow strong and healthy. Other excellent options include infusoria, finely crushed fish flakes, and baby-specific foods designed for small fish species.
Maintaining optimal water parameters is equally important for the well-being of the fry. Regular water changes, stable temperatures between 75-82°F, and efficient filtration will help keep the environment clean and safe. Be sure to provide plenty of hiding places using live plants, java moss, or aquarium decorations, as these give the fry a place to rest and hide from adult guppies or other fish in the same tank.
As the fry develop over several weeks, monitor their growth and watch for any signs of stress or illness. If you have other fish species or adult guppies in the main tank, consider moving the fry to a separate nursery tank to prevent them from being eaten or outcompeted for food. This also gives the female guppy time to recover from the birth process without added stress.
If you are breeding for genetics, I would also seperate the fish at around 1 month old to prevant early breeding.
Keep in mind that female guppies can become pregnant again just days after giving birth, especially if male guppies are present. To prevent over-breeding, you may want to separate the female from males until she has fully recovered. She can also be pregnant for multiple times after mating once. Guppies are known for storing male guppy sperm for multiple pregnancy, However, this is not the best practice for breeding for coloration as the quality will decay over time. I would recommend mating your female with a good male again after birth.
If you need further help with caring for pregnant female or line breeding in general. Feel free to reach out to me!
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1 comment
Great information , thank you. We will be ordering soon. We just need to make a decision on which ones to start with.