How to Tell When Your Guppy Is About to Give Birth?
While it's always helpful to know exactly when your female guppy conceived her litter so that you can be prepared, it isn't always possible. The average gestation period for a female guppy is 28 days. This can vary among individuals and from litter to litter in the same specimen, and could be anywhere from 21 to 40 days. It's more practical to observe your fish closely for signs of impending delivery.
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Instructions
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Check your pregnant guppy every day and watch her for awhile. Look at her belly. It will be quite large and very round and rather bulbous in appearance as her pregnancy progresses and she approaches delivery.
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Observe the pregnant guppy's belly closely from all angles. Look for a large dark spot that will develop at the rear of her abdomen when her time is very near. This dark area is referred to as the gravid spot. You should see the silhouettes of the bodies of some of the fry within the very distended abdomen.
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Watch the guppy's behavior patterns. When her cumbersome abdomen takes on a somewhat blocky appearance, she will become very still for awhile. Observe her gravid spot closely, and you'll see it dilate just before she begins giving birth.
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Tips & Warnings
Move the expectant female guppy to her own bare 2.5- to 5-gallon aquarium equipped with a corner filter at least several days prior to the anticipated delivery time. She will be much less stressed in a free-roaming area. This guppy should be kept alone, since other fish will feed upon her fry as soon as they're born. If you're not sure of the due date, then go ahead and put her by herself when she looks very heavy to you.
Float numerous live or plastic aquarium plants in the pregnant guppy's tank. The plants should form a thick mat at the surface. As soon as she gives birth, each baby will drop to the bottom of the aquarium. Within moments, the fry will swim toward the surface where they can hide in the plants. Many mother guppies are cannibalistic and will greedily eat their own fry.
Install a net breeder in your aquarium if it isn't possible to relocate the pregnant guppy to another tank. Float plants on the surface within the confines of the contraption.
