Do Guppies Exhibit Any Special Behaviour

[jaarus]

Other than a gravid spot and looking pregnant - do guppies actually exhibit any behaviour before birth so you know which one to watch lol!

Anyone noticed?

 

[lilfishie]

well sometimes mine go square around there stomach area which helps me know when there going to drop and i havea had some become terribly aggressive before birth and others just go and hide.

 

[guppylover1]

they also stay near the bottom looking for safe places to have them and are very jumpy to movements near them.

 

[jaarus]

Ok cool many thanks all.

I have 4 females that are due - some are jumpy, some are solitary - but from the info they could display either of these behaviours.... was kinda hoping that I would know 'behaviour type A' means a few days & 'type B' is imminant.

Uh-Oh .... I think I am in for a whole heap of babies!!

 

[modaz]

firstly your fish will look for somewhere where she will feel safe, sometimes up by the filter or in a dark corner or even in a cave and sometimes in thick plants.
the first physical signs are a slight panting of the gills which will continue to do throughout the labour and she will look like she is gasping for air, her movements will be very slow, if at this point you wish to put her in a birthing trap then this is the time to do it (this is your choice and nobody else's but you will here different views on these traps, i use them all the time for small livebearers only and ive never lost a fish whilst in there or any fry).
when she just about to drop her fry she will arch her back so that her back end is raised above her body then she will push her anal fin to one side and fry will drop, some fry are born on their own or twos or threes it depends on the fish.
this can go on for atleast 20 hours depending on how many she has inside, you will find that there are many long intervals between each dropped fry and this is normal. when she is really skinny then she would have usually had them all, at this point feed her as she will be hungry.
A good suggestion is to keep the tank lights off and this will keep her calm during the birth.

good luck and keep us updated

 

[jaarus]

Will do - switching off tank lights now!

I have had 12 fry so far (4 then 8 in different births)- mother/s unknown - all look exactly the same as pre-fry!

Luckily I have a bigger tank coming soon, pick it up tomorrow hopefully - think I am about to have a population spike!

 

[clover]

each of my females do diffrent things i have 1 female who stays swimming in the group pauses every so often to pop a fry/s out. another female wedges herself in plants and pops. other stay to the bottom of the tank away from everyone and pop.

when i know one is going to pop i move in to a birthing tank, if i find fry in the adult tank i place them in a large breeder trap. a marina multi