19th Nov 2009
Signs of Guppy Pregnancy
A common freshwater aquarium fish, guppies are known for their extraordinary colors and patterns sure pleasing to have in any aquarium. Active and fascinating, they make wonderful additions to anyone’s reef display. The popularity of guppies among the many fishes best kept in home setting is probably owed to its ease of care and being hardy. The many wonderful qualities of this fish made it very much recognized in the aquarium keeping hobby.
Guppies make great community fishes too. Though they could get along easily with many other species, guppies are most comfortable being around with those of their own. If you are keeping your female guppies along with the males, chances are they would get pregnant about once every 30 days. Keeping guppies need to have certain knowledge about these finned creatures. How frequent they multiply is one thing you need to watch for if you want a controlled breeding. Your local fish retailer could offer you helpful advises in performing controlled breeding successfully. But as a fish keeper, it is important for you to be aware and watchful of signs of guppy pregnancy.
Your female guppy is pregnant when she starts developing a dark spot (known as gravid patch) under her tail, towards the back of its stomach. As the babies start to form, you will notice this spot would increase in its size and would tend to appear much darker. On the final stages of a guppy’s pregnancy, its patch would turn black and your guppy is very bloated and fat. Many other observations are noted from a female pregnant guppy such as constant arching of their back and pushing, a noticeable fading of their coloration and their vent would appear slightly opened. They would also behave quite differently and would often sit on one spot, would either not feed or become more a voracious eater; they could also become very skittish or very aggressive at times. When pregnant guppies become stressed, they remain pregnant until they eventually die. Expert aquarists would advise isolating your pregnant guppy and prepare her a place she could lay her fries.
With more guppies, means a lot more of beautiful swimming finned friends in your aquarium. Naturally you have to make sure they stay best in shape too. Guppies are a pleasure to own, and very much rewarding to keep. When you know how to care for them right and deal when your females become pregnant, you will have plenty of healthy and happy guppies and a splendid aquarium display.
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