Guppies are beautiful and interesting fish; they represent one of the few species that reproduce through internal insemination, instead of the usual method in which the male simply fertilizes the eggs. If there are male and female specimens in your aquarium, it is certain that they will eventually get pregnant. Since this is a phenomenon that will happen sooner or later, you should carefully observe their behavior and appearance whenever you have free time to understand when the minnows are pregnant.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Physical Symptoms
Step 1. Notice your abdomen swelling
Just like in humans, female guppies also develop a more swollen belly when pregnant. Sometimes, it can be a simple abdominal dilation and not a pregnancy; but if you pay attention for several weeks and find that the belly continues to grow over time, the little fish is likely to wait for the fry.
As the due date approaches, the Guppy becomes very large and stocky; it takes about a month for the fry to be ready to be born
Step 2. Look at the pregnancy stain
You have to wait about a couple of weeks before you notice a spot (near the back of the fish) that gets darker. When it takes on this color, it means that the Guppy is pregnant; at first it may be orange or dark, but as gestation progresses it changes between these two colors.
You can understand that the time of birth is really imminent when you notice spots (the eyes of the fry) in the area of the pregnancy spot
Step 3. Monitor your body's contractions
Another very clear sign of Guppy's pregnancy is the presence of contractions, which look like muscular tensions on the surface of her body which then relax.
This process can repeat itself many times during labor and consists of a muscle contracture which is then released
Part 2 of 3: Behavioral Indicators
Step 1. Recognize the moment of mating
In this phase the male chases the female until she is exhausted and he manages to slide over her body; at this point it erects the anal fin and inserts it into the genital organ to release the spermatozoa. Conception can occur simply with quick contact with the female and the male then swims away.
The "intercourse" can be very fast and often the owners of the fish do not even notice
Step 2. Pay attention to other symptoms
While not all of these signs show up in every pregnancy, they are still a good starting point for trying to figure out if your Guppy is expecting little fish or not. Here's what to observe:
- The Guppy shakes or shakes;
- It rubs against objects in the aquarium, which can be the walls, leaves or decorations;
- He refuses to eat.
Step 3. Check if the fish appears to be swimming in place
This is one of the most common behavioral characteristics when the delivery date approaches; your friend moves as if she were swimming, but in reality she remains stationary in only one point of the aquarium.
During birth, it may also try to hide from view or show some aggressive attitudes, such as biting the fins of other specimens
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of the Pregnant Guppy
Step 1. Minimize their stress
Remember to take proper care of the little fish and not to create any anxiety. If she begins to fidget during pregnancy, there is a chance she may absorb fetuses or miscarry; this means that the fry will not be born.
A stressful environment is harmful to the unborn child and compromises their chances of survival
Step 2. Get a tub that acts as a "delivery room"
In this way you protect the mother and the well-being of babies; however, you have to be cautious as this second container could cause stress to the pregnant guppy; the shorter the period he spends inside, the less anxiety he can experience.
- The delivery room for the aquarium, or nest room, consists of a plastic box to hang or attach inside the tank and which is used to isolate sick, aggressive fish, pregnant females and fry.
- It is quite inexpensive and typically lasts for several occasions; it is an excellent investment because it can save the life of the Guppy and the unborn children.
- The future mother should remain confined to this space for the shortest possible time, to minimize the stress that causes her; it is therefore important to pay attention to the symptoms of labor and only put it inside when the time of birth of the fry approaches.
- To proceed, you can use a fishing net and gently transfer the Guppy.
Step 3. Feed the expectant mother
At this stage, a well-balanced diet must be followed to avoid suffering from nutritional deficiencies; this means that you have to give her a variety of different foods throughout her gestation.
Alternate the days when she eats the usual flake food with those when you give her food in pellets, seaweed capsules, krill, American worms, or pickled shrimp
Step 4. Return the guppy to the original aquarium
Once the young have grown up in the delivery room or in a nest room with a recommended capacity of 40 liters or more, they can return to the main aquarium where the box was previously inserted to protect them and allow their development. This process can take up to four months; if you wish, you can also choose a new aquarium.
- With the arrival of so many new minnows you will probably need a larger tank, as they will reach a length of 5 cm and you must avoid overcrowding the environment.
- If there are too many fish in a confined space, the fish become stressed and the adults can get to eat the young.
Step 5. Clean the aquarium regularly
You must avoid that fish live and grow in an unhealthy environment full of bacteria, as they could develop life-threatening diseases. Water can be clear, but bacteria can still thrive; when the water is too hot, the microorganisms multiply faster.
- Many fish can suffer from white spot disease (icthyophtyriasis), which causes rot on the fins, body and mouth and can kill animals quickly, even within 24 hours. In larger specimens, the disease takes a few days to manifest.
- To kill the bacteria responsible for this disease, you need to pour a specific product into the tub water.
