My Guppy Is Giving Birth

[megamegs1234]

I didn't know my guppy was pregnant. And now she's giving birth and the others are trying to eat them. What do I do? I'm so scared right now!

 

[KrystaK]

You can take the mumma guppy out and put her in a different tank or container if you want to save the fry.
Or you can just leave her in the tank (Preferable) and chances are some of the fry will survive, though not all. But you really don't want all 20+ fry to survive, thats just to many babies

 

[megamegs1234]

I don't even know who the mother is! They just start appearing and I don't know where they come from. I separated my two females and put them in little bowls. Same with the males. Now the guppies have a whole tank to themselves. A lot got eaten by the time I realized though. I think there are only three now. I don't want the girls to die in the middle of the night from stress though. One of them is freaking out and banging against the walls. The other one is just laying there breathing heavily. Is this the right thing to do? Will I kill them by moving them around so much,

 

[megamegs1234]

New update. My four fish have been put into vases with gravel from the other tank in the bottom so they feel more at home. They are all separated. My three little survivers are in the five gallon tank but the filter isnt runninh because they are so tiny, I don't want them getting sucked up. What should I do?

 

[megamegs1234]

I think I'm going to buy a maturnity tank today because supposedly guppies give birth more than once. But I'm pretty sure both females are pregnant because when I separated them and put them each in different vases both had babies hiding in the morning. If I put both Moms in the tank together will they eat each others babies?

 

[megamegs1234]

And I discovered one of the frys on the outside of the tank. I don't know how long it was out of the water. I put it back and it looked fine. This morning it looks a little sickly. Is it going to be okay? What can I do for it?

 

[fluttermoth]

Please, please put all your fish back in the tank, ASAP, and switch the filter back on. They'll just poison themselves with their own wastes in unfiltered vases or bowls.

The fry might be small, but they're strong swimmers and won't get sucked up by filters. A few fry will survive with no help from you, and with only a five gallon tank, you don't have the space to try and save them all. I know that sounds harsh, but livebearers have lots of fry precisely because so many get eaten, either by the parents or other fish, it's just how it works.

 

[megamegs1234]

Okay All the grown ups are back in the tank and I bought this special breeding grass so that some of the babies can hide. I rescued the three babies I told you about before and put them in a big vase becuase I don't like the odds of four attackers to three victims. The water is completely clean and the little guys seem fine. I figure I'll leave them in there until they're a bit bigger or move them to this little tank that I still haven't set up if it seems like they are struggling in the vase. But they seem fine and they are so tiny that I don't think they will produce enough waste to be a problem. Problem solved or is there something else that I'm missing? I'm new at this.

 

[TC7]

Seriously?? Correct me if I am wrong anyone, but those babies will not survive in a vase. They need to be in a tank with a filter/heater etc.

 

[turtlegirl]

Seriously?? Correct me if I am wrong anyone, but those babies will not survive in a vase. They need to be in a tank with a filter/heater etc.

There is positively no way your fry will survive in a bowl. They are not bettas.. Please please PLEASE find them a sponge filter and give them a chance.

 

[megamegs1234]

Okay. But I don't have another tank for them and putting them back with the adults is not an option.

 

[turtlegirl]

Use a Rubbermaid tub with a sponge filter.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

A DIY idea (if its still not sorted)

DIY breeder nets to place the babies in. Take a 2 litre soda bottle properly cleaned (hot water not with soap). Cut off the top and the bottom and sandpaper the edges, wipe away any powdery residue. Cut off the leg of a pair of clean panty hose and slide the tube you have created inside the panty hose. Make a hook and place the pantyhose covered bottle in your tank... the bottom (which is covered with pantyhose£ will allow the tank water inside without allowing fish in or out, place your babies in it. Then when you are able go out and buy a proper breeder net to keep in your tank when neede

 

[Moby-Krib]

A DIY idea (if its still not sorted)

DIY breeder nets to place the babies in. Take a 2 litre soda bottle properly cleaned (hot water not with soap). Cut off the top and the bottom and sandpaper the edges, wipe away any powdery residue. Cut off the leg of a pair of clean panty hose and slide the tube you have created inside the panty hose. Make a hook and place the pantyhose covered bottle in your tank... the bottom (which is covered with pantyhose£ will allow the tank water inside without allowing fish in or out, place your babies in it. Then when you are able go out and buy a proper breeder net to keep in your tank when neede

That would work in a pinch as a short term breeder box for sure.
The fish , all of them need to be kept in a filtered, heated tank.
you will soon have more fry I can almost guarantee it, Don't fret too much if that first batch got eaten, sound cruel but its totally natural,
If you weren't ready or expecting them it is better to let nature take its course than to risk killing all of them in a well meaning but panicked attempt to save the fry.