Guppy fish are hardy, but they can still be picky. On average, the babies develop in the womb for about 21 to 31 days. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. You can leave her there until she gives birth. 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. Alkalinity (KH) should be around 80-150 ppm and your pH 6.8-7.8 ppm. Other indications that your female is well along in her pregnancy are changes in her behavior. Once the pregnant guppy fish are in the breeding trap or box, you will need to provide them with food and water. 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. Many aquarists end up with babies without any direct intervention whatsoever! In some rare cases, gestation might last as long as 35 days. The best time to separate pregnant guppy fish is when you see the gravid spot darken in color. Genetics, the availability of food, the mothers health, and a bit of luck will determine the exact number. The female guppy gives birth to 20-60 fry at a time. If you already have a small tank set up with clean, safe water, simply scoop the pregnant guppy with a fishnet and place her in it. Whatever you do, make sure that the babies have a way to hide and escape from getting eaten. Place the pregnant guppy in the new tank and add some plants or decorations for her to hide in. A female guppy can get pregnant as early as two months after birth, although they usually mature at three months. Dont forget to test the water parameters. Maintaining the appropriate conditions in an aquarium with one fish is so much easier. Another reason to separate your pregnant guppy is to protect the fry upon birth. 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. Guppies are easy to breed because male guppies are pretty enthusiastic about mating. To measure the pH, ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites, I personally use the API Water Test Kit (link to Amazon). More importantly, I have had them for longer than the typical gestation period of a female guppy. Age is a significant factor, too. It usually takes a fry 20-30 minutes to fully digest and process a meal, which means the fry is ready to eat every 30 minutes. link to Do Guppies Make Bubble Nests? First, you can try separating the two fish by putting them in different tanks. And once it gives birth, you should remove the mother. Keep the tank clean and monitor conditions regularly. 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. The female will begin to lay eggs near the end of the period. As with us humans guppy will have spells when they feel sick, when this happens they will skip meals. The pregnant Guppy will begin seeking areas to hide as well. As the guppy fry (Babies) grow larger they need more room and cause mums belly to grow. In other words, if you have males and females in the same tank, theres a good chance that mating will occur. How Long Are Guppies Pregnant Before Giving Birth? Realizing that your guppy is pregnant can be exciting. A pregnant guppy can live alone as long as there is plenty of food and shelter available. The good thing is that it very easy to know if a guppy is pregnant. So, separating the female when carrying fry is always better to stay on the safe side. You will enjoy the beautiful coloration of the males and not have to worry about any guppy fry. This is especially important for pregnant guppies, who need extra nutrients to support their growing babies. Be sure to end the separation once the fry are big enough to defend themselves. Check out her belly. Once youre able to tell that the female guppy fish is pregnant, consider moving her to a separate breeding tank. Male guppies wont hesitate to mate with pregnant females, who can hardly handle the pressure. Yes, you should separate guppy fish when pregnant to protect the mother and her babies from being eaten by other fish, prevent the mother from getting stressed out and eating her babies, and give the babies a better chance of survival. I have found the easiest way to check the pH level of your aquarium water is to use a digital pH Meter. [5] If you want the pregnant guppy to live in a separate tank, you must buy and prepare a separate tank. Aquarium Source 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. Usually, the female guppy will hide, when she is ready to drop the fry. This is necessary as she may eat the fry, seeking the nourishment she needs to recover. If possible, move her to a separate tank, as other fish will eat the fry move the mother back to the main tank after the birth, as she will also attempt to eat her young. Diseases like dropsy and swim bladder diseases could be to blame. It would help if you separated pregnant guppy fish from the rest of the tank for several reasons: Other fish in the tank, even those of the same species, can be aggressive toward pregnant guppies. This way, the tiny fry will escape to the other side of the tank. Believe it or not, those spots are the eyes of the babies inside! They will chase any other fish away that comes near them, male and female. He will pass a sperm packet to the females anal vent, located just behind the gravid spot. Passionate male guppies are not your only concern. This is necessary as she may eat the fry, seeking the nourishment she needs to recover. Yes they can begin the next pregnancy whilst the female is currently pregnant. This is why you should only use a breeding box towards the end of the 4th week of pregnancy. That is why it is more challenging to keep the water clean in a community tank. Guppy fish have a very short gestation period. The signs of pregnancy arent just physical. The male guppy will deposit sperm in to a female guppy, the female guppy will then store the sperm to use over the course of up to eight months. This period of time when a guppy is pregnant is called the gestation period. Healthy fry will uncurl and begin swimming quickly. she will nonstop be bothered by the males who I'm sure are stressing her out already. If the spot is dark and grows larger over time the guppy is pregnant. The main reasons for separating your pregnant guppy include. A typical female guppy will be pregnant for 21 to 30 days but this can vary considerably. She may also have difficulty swimming and may breathe rapidly. When a female guppy is pregnant you can expect some behavior changes which will include. Factors related to birthing complications and the external environment can cause a female guppy's death once she gives birth. Copyright 2023 Pet Fish Online | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, Why Did My Pregnant Guppy Die? Mating is quick and may occur multiple times to ensure insemination. The best time to separate pregnant guppy fish is when you see the gravid spot darken in color. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'helpusfish_com-sky-3','ezslot_29',672,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-helpusfish_com-sky-3-0');A guppy breading box is a small container that sits inside your aquarium and quarantines off the pregnant female from other fish. You can never know what will happen in the main tank. If you werent able to notice that, the easiest way to spot a pregnant guppy is by looking at her. To do this, you will need to net the fish and gently place them into the breeding trap or box. Another reason to separate your pregnant guppy is to protect the fry upon birth. This usually happens 24-48 hours before the fish gives birth. If you werent able to spot a difference in her abdomen but notice the male fish in your tank beginning to harass her, theres a very high chance that she is pregnant. Feel free to check my complete guide on pregnant guppy fish. In severe cases, environmental factors can terminate the pregnancy altogether. A pregnant guppy has a very noticeable gravid spot in the belly area. Make sure there is a lid on it so she doesnt jump out and put some plants there. Thats because males will often keep trying to mate with her even after shes pregnant. Helping your guppy to fulfill her goal of reproduction is an exciting and fun process to be a part of. She'll disappear from view as she looks for a quiet place to give birth. Once separated, you should keep your pregnant guppy away from all other fish until she gives birth. Both artificial and natural aquarium plants will serve this purpose. The mating ritual can last several minutes, but the act of insemination is brief and easy to miss. Fine-leaf plants work well, too. What have you found works best for a breeding tank setup? Guppies can live for up to 10 years in captivity. I have seen guppy fish miscarrying the eggs before males even fertilize them. There is a spot towards the back that is going to be darker than the rest. You dont need to do anything fancy; a simple set-up will work fine. This solution is temporary, though. In turn, you should see noticeable changes to the spots appearance. Your newborn fry will require very small-sized food at first. The fry are about in length when they are born and grow approximately 0.3 inches per month. That will allow the fry to escape to the other side of the tank. Her color may fade. Plants like Java moss, hornwort, and guppy grass provide plenty of coverage and security for fry. Regular breeding fish can easily give birth to well over 2,000 babies in their lifetime! So you have a rough idea when to expect the babies. The gestation period for female guppies is typically less than one month but can range from 21 to 31 days. Incorrect water parameters could delay the gestation period. The water hardness should be from 7 to 12 dGH. Install a sponge filter to keep the water clean. The consequences for a pregnant guppy are worse because the fish is so weak and vulnerable. Alternatively, you can use a breeding box within a larger tank. What are pregnant guppy signs of delivery? That is called the "gravid spot," and it will get darker and darker as her babies grow. During delivery, you need two separate tanks one for the mother and another for fry. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. A female guppy will be pregnant for about 25 - 35 days before giving birth. The appetite of the fish will change during pregnancy. The best way to protect both the pregnant guppy and all her fry is by separating her for the entire length of her pregnancy. I wouldn't recommend using a fish net as they're so. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website.