Pregnant Guppies?

[FrankP]

Hi,

I have a couple of female guppies that are huge I am assuing they are pregnant. I have a couple of questions:

1: How can you tell when they are going to give birth - any signs, symptoms etc.
2: Should I get a breeder thing that floats in the tank or set up a small nuesrey tank.
3: If the tank is the best way how do you stop mum from eating offspring?

Thanks

Frank

 

[WILDER]

Never breed guppys but my platys get abit moody before they gave birth, a nursery tank sounds fine if it is cycled, just move the fry when they have been born and you can see them in the tank, or when you no she is about due put her in the nursery tank to give birth, then remove her when she has finished, good luck.

 

[ferrikins]

Hi,

I have a couple of female guppies that are huge I am assuing they are pregnant. I have a couple of questions:

1: How can you tell when they are going to give birth - any signs, symptoms etc.
2: Should I get a breeder thing that floats in the tank or set up a small nuesrey tank.
3: If the tank is the best way how do you stop mum from eating offspring?

Thanks

Frank

1, not realy, they may get grumpy and chase the over fish off, and stop eating.

2,NEVER use a breeding trap/net, a small 5g is fine for one litter, but you may want to get a larger tank use and undergravel filter and devid it.

3, LOTS of plant.

 

[fishguy18]

1: How can you tell when they are going to give birth - any signs, symptoms etc.
2: Should I get a breeder thing that floats in the tank or set up a small nuesrey tank.
3: If the tank is the best way how do you stop mum from eating offspring?

1. Well this may contradict everything that has been said here so far but oh well you learn from experience and remember every fish is different. My guppy was eating right up until a few minutes before she gave birth so that might not be the best indication...however many fish do stop eating before they "pop". Also I find that my guppy went right to the back of the tank and was kind of resting in the gravel before i put her in the breeding trap. which brings me to your second question.

2. I personally like to use plastic breeding "chambers" I only put one fish in at a time and i take out the divider, also i fill it will a grass or weed type plant and try to make the mother feel as happy and safe as possible. I have not had a death yet from the breeding trap so until that day comes i will continue to use mine. I do however take the babies out after the birth and put them into a small 5 gallon tank will lots of weeds and plants but without any gravel. This way the mother does not have a chance to eat any of them because they fall into the bottom section of the breeding chamber and then you just collect them after she has finished giving birth. Also one very important thing that many people do not do is, DO NOT put the mother back into the main tank right after she has given birth! I usually wait about a day or 2 depending on how active the mother is.

I hope this helps you out! I am still fairly new at this stuff too but I have a batch of fry still living so my method must work fine.....

GOOD LUCK!