Is My Guppie Pregnant?

[GuppieMike]

I'm relatively new to tropical fish, I bought some female guppies about two weeks ago. I notice as black mark near her tail, I read up about gravid spots on live bearers. She came from the pet shop with these black marks, I just wanted to double check if it is the gravid spot and she is pregnant or its just part of her design.

Sorry about the pics, I did the best I could but she moves fast.

I hope the link below works, let me know if it doesn't.

http/1drv.ms/1IZGica

 

[Akasha72]

Hi again, if she had a black spot towards the end of her stomach then she's pregnant. The black spot is actually the baby fishes eyes showing through her skin. As you've already learned this is known as a 'gravid spot'. Most livebearers arrive in store already pregnant due to breeders not keeping the males and females seperate. If she's very young she shouldn't drop too many fry ... once she hits maturity she could drop as many as two hundred every few weeks - assuming you have her with a male. This is why guppies are often nicknamed 'millions fish'
 
Hope that explains things a bit for you

 

[the_lock_man]

If the females have been anywhere near a male in the last 6 months, then yes, they are gravid. The gravid spot isn't a magnificent indicator of impending fry. If the females are fat beyond belief then fry are imminent, although the fry will be predated upon by all of the tank inhabitants, including the females.

 

[GuppieMike]

She has a very dark spot near her tail however she is not fat.

Could someone let me know if the picture worked, if not I can try fix it.

 

[Akasha72]

yes, I can see the picture. I'd say she's preggers but not ready to drop for a bit yet. 

 

[fish48]

Although it may be possible for a guppy to have as many as 200 fry in one go it is very rare for them to do so.

it's Very unlikely that they will have 200 fry every few weeks. If you are lucky to have such an high brood the chances are it will be a one off. I find The average brood size 30 -70 

 

[AshleyNZ]

You'll know shes ready to drop fry when she becomes 'boxy' meaning if you look at her head on her belly would be in a \__/ type shape Good luck with the babies!

 

[GuppieMike]

Thanks for all the info, what would be best for the fry, put her in my 28ltr tank to give birth or to get a nest box?

 

[Akasha72]

I'd put her in the 28 litre. The breeding traps can be really stressful for them and are only really any good for a short period (a few hours at most) If you have the 28 litre spare then it makes sense to move her there. It a good idea though to keep a filter cycling in the main community tank that can be moved over with her. That way she's not exposed to poor water conditions 

 

[GuppieMike]

Thanks, the gravid spot has now turned more orange then black, does this mean she is still pregnant and the orange is fry developing

 

[Akasha72]

hmm ... it could be that's she's dropped them - or re-absorbed them. Is there any black or is it all orange? Is she looking fat or slim?

 

[the_lock_man]

Don't rely on the gravid spot to indicate impending fry - is the fish still very fat?

 

[GuppieMike]

She is rounded, I must admit and there is some black but not so much, there is more orange.

 

[Akasha72]

if she's looking fat I'd say she's still got some fry on board. Keep an eye on her and see how it pans out. If she'd suddenly slimmed down I'd be saying she's dropped em during the night or something