How to Tell If Guppy is Pregnant?

-- By Carol

Guppies are truly attractive and fascinating fish.

They are one of the few fish species that happen to breed by internal fertilization except for the males fertilizing the eggs for the female.

So, if you happen to have a mix of female and male guppies, there is a high chance that you will end up with a couple of pregnant guppy mamas.

Since this is bound to happen, it is important that you closely monitor your guppy fish to identify whether they are pregnant or not and notice any changes in their behaviors and appearances.

In this article, we will find out how to identify whether your guppy is pregnant or not and what changes you should be looking out for.

Table of Contents

Look Out for Mating in Guppies

A very clear indication of whether your guppy is pregnant or not is if you see them mating.

Before they begin, you will most likely see the male chasing a female around in your tank.

Once they are close enough, you can see the male impregnating the female with his anal fin.

That said, there is a high chance that you will miss the process since guppies are extremely fast, and it’s a small procedure.

So if you happen to see it happening, and then you suspect your guppy being pregnant, you can be more sure.

Males and Females Are Together in a Tank

Another obvious indicator of whether your guppy is pregnant or not is that if you have males and female guppies present together in a tank, then one of them is most likely pregnant.

Guppies give birth almost every 30 days.

There is also the chance that if you have only females in a tank, one could have been pregnant beforehand and is about to give birth.

So monitoring them closely is essential.

Guppy’s Belly Has Begun to Bulge

The female guppy, like people, will grow larger as if inflated. It’s possible that this is merely bloating or constipating, and she is not pregnant.

However, if you observe your guppy’s belly over several weeks and it keeps growing larger, your guppy is most likely pregnant.

When your female guppy is nearly ready to give birth, she will be huge and boxy in appearance. The fry is ready to be born after roughly a month.

Changes in the Gravid Spot

A Guppy’s gravid spot is located near their butts; the spot usually begins to get darker after two weeks of pregnancy have surpassed.

This will indicate that your guppy is pregnant if it darkens. It may start orange or dark, but it might shift between the two throughout the pregnancy.

When you observe small dots (the baby guppies’ eyes) in the gravid region, you know your guppy is on the verge of giving birth.

Once your guppy has given birth, the gravid spot will disappear completely, or in some cases, it does not completely vanish but fades out to become much smaller.

There Will Be Body Contractions

The emergence of body contractions is another key symptom when your guppy is in labor.

This will appear as the tightening of the muscles on the outside of your guppy’s body, followed by a relaxing of the muscles.

During labor, this process of contracting muscles and then relaxing them may occur several times.

So, make sure to monitor them closely for any such signs.

Guppy May Swim in One Place

One of the most typical behavioral traits of a guppy about to give birth is swimming in one place.

Even though they are in the same place as before, your pregnant guppy will appear to be swimming.

In addition, a guppy in labor may attempt to hide from sight, which is why she should be in a secure and comfortable place because the babies are on the way.

Aggression May Rise

When your female becomes pregnant, you may notice that she becomes more aggressive.

Particularly towards males that persist in attempting to mate with her.

This may come in the form of chasing them, but in more serious cases, they may start fin nipping.

So, it is best to separate your pregnant guppies from other males to minimize any chance of attacks.

Changes in Breathing in Guppies

When your guppy is pregnant, you may notice that their breathing becomes faster as well.

As they get further along in the pregnancy, it’s more likely to happen.

Hiding From View and Other Fish

As previously mentioned, when your guppy is about to give birth, she’ll want to hide from the other fish in the tank.

As a result, you might not be able to locate them as quickly once the contractions start.

They do this to avoid other fish in the tank disturbing them and acting violently while they are unable to protect themselves.

This is why, when they’re pregnant, it’s a smart reason to move them to a separate tank or somewhere safe.

You may see your guppy attempting to distance itself from other fish in addition to hiding.

She prefers to stay near the heater because it’s warmer, but any corner of a safe location in the tank would suffice.

Eating Patterns and Habits Change in Pregnant Guppies

You may also observe that your female no longer likes to eat as the pregnancy progresses. She may refuse to eat or throw it out after only a few bites.

Either way, she’s on the verge of delivering her fry.

However, while your guppy is pregnant, you should feed her a well-balanced diet to avoid nutrient deficiencies.

This means that throughout her pregnancy, you should give her a selection of food.

Alternate between standard flake food, micro fish food pellets, krill, bloodworms, and brine shrimp.

Notice the Gestation Period

Guppy fish have a very short gestation period. The babies develop in the womb for 21 to 31 days on average.

Gestation can last up to 35 days in certain rare circumstances.

The exact range will be determined by a number of things.

Everything will have an impact, from the temperature of the water to the supply of nutrients. The same can be said for the fish’s overall well-being.

The actual birthing procedure takes substantially less time. It lasts anywhere from two to six hours.

When looking after pregnant guppy fish, it’s critical to keep the tank in good shape. Improper water factors may cause the gestation time to be extended.

Environmental factors can cause a pregnancy to end prematurely in some situations.

Maintain a clean tank and keep an eye on the situation on a frequent basis.

Guppies can give birth in a regular tropical tank, but the environment must be stable for the mother’s health.

Final Words

We hope this helped you in figuring out whether your guppy is pregnant or not – there are numerous ways of identification, as mentioned.

Moreover, the work does not stop here.

Once your guppy has given birth, caring for the babies and the mother is essential in order to have a chance at survival and a healthy life ahead.

So, make sure to keep a close eye on your guppy fish and the babies that arrive, and if you are following the advice given, then you should be good to go!

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