Pregnant Guppies
Everything You Want To Know About Pregnant Guppies
Think you are up to the challenge of dealing with pregnant guppies? It is something that you definitely need to be ready for if you plan on bringing guppies home for your tank because females become pregnant approximately every 30 days.
Pregnant guppies are fairly easy to take care of and always fun to watch. They are extremely hardy little fish so you will rarely have to deal with health issues but you do need to go a little beyond the basics when initially setting up your tank. It is recommended to add some water conditioner to the tank prior to bringing your fish home to improve the quality of the water and help the fish with an easy transition.
Signs Of Pregnant Guppies
How do you know if your fish has become pregnant? Guppies that are pregnant will show a tiny spot under their tail. As the babies form, this spot will turn darker and become larger and of course the mother-to-be will get bigger too. If you happen to notice a white string looking like it is coming from this area then she probably just dropped a baby.
Moving Pregnant Guppies
If you have a pregnant female it is a good idea to scoop her up and place her in a breeder or isolation tank on the snide of the aquarium. If they get stressed they can remain pregnant forever until they eventually die. Do not try to use a net to catch her or transfer her to a separate tank because this will only upset her.
Pregnant guppies should deliver in roughly 30 days but if they don’t, you can help them a bit by gradually raising the temperature of the tank everyday by about one degree until they are give birth. If your fish are in a breeder tank, which is recommended, the babies will drop into the compartment below so that the mother does not eat them. If you want to keep any babies then you must use a breeder tank or the babies will always be at risk of becoming food.
Breeding
People breed fish either for the enjoyment of it, to make a profit or to use as food for lager fish. Guppies are great fish to start out breeding for beginners. It can be a really fun hobby for adults and an exciting learning experience for children.
When you go to purchase your guppies you should know that the males are colorful and smaller while the females are a bit larger and only have color on their tail. It is recommended that you choose males and females that match so that their offspring will have vibrant colors otherwise the colors will be dull with random patterns.
Also, you do not need to purchase equal numbers of males and females to create your pregnant guppies. One male is more than capable and happy to fertilize several females. Guppies are considered live breeders which simply means that their offsprings are born alive rather than laid in eggs. A female can have between 20 to 60 babies in her fry at one time.
To be successful at breeding guppies, they require quality food and a sound environment. The tank should house several fake or real plants so that they have plenty of places to hide. Tropical flakes are a quality food source however, blood worms, brine shrimp or other protein rich foods should be offered to your fish as well. This will ensure the health of your pregnant guppies and their babies. Keep in mind that nutritious food will always produce much more offspring.