Guppies are livebearers, which means when guppies attain maturity, they give birth to free-swimming offspring.
It might be strange to see something more than just guppy babies coming out. Do guppies poop before giving birth?
In this article, we’ll find out what guppies do during birthing and if what you are seeing is actually poop.
Do Guppies Poop Before Giving Birth?
Yes. Whenever a pregnant guppy is pooping many times than the norm this is usually a sign she will give birth in about an hour’s time, though some female guppies start having many poops from the second week of pregnancy.
TIP : I have written a guide on how to care for pregnant guppies, check it out here
Is My Guppy Pregnant?
You need to be sure if your female guppy is gravid or not. If you are caring for male and female guppies in the same aquarium, female guppies get pregnant fast within days most of the time, unless they are infertile.
During pregnancy, female guppies usually possess a bulging belly. Their gravid spot, which is directly above their anal fin, will turn prominent and darker. In the few weeks of pregnancy, their stomach will continue to expand, until the fry are out.
How Long For Guppies To Give Birth?
It is difficult to predict the exact date when they will give birth to the fry.
- Female guppies usually deliver their fry within 25-35 days after mating with male guppies.
When your guppy hides between plants or isolate themselves or stay in the corner of the aquarium, those are the signs that your female guppy fish is in labor and set to deliver their fry.
These factors are unusual to guppies; that is why it is not hard to detect. Once you see a pregnant guppy isolating herself, then it is time to put her in a separate aquarium.
The below video shows you signs you should look out for a guppy that is ready to give birth.
Pregnant Guppy White Stringy Poop
White stringy poop from a pregnant guppy is a sign of a parasitic infection within the fish. You will need to feed medicated food to help get rid of the infection.
You can get medicated fish food from amazon. You should also check the water conditions of the tank to make sure all is ok.
Is the water clean as well? It would be worth to check and clean the filters in your tank.
Guppy Fry Size
The female will “drop” 2 to 200 baby guppies, called fry. This delivery usually takes place within 4 to 6 hours, while at times it takes over 12 hours. Though there are hours spacing in between the fries delivery.
- They measure around 1/4 inch (0.6 mm) long.
The baby guppies usually give birth to curled shaped fry, just as they appear in the mother’s womb if you subject them to a scan. Immediately after birth, like tadpoles, they will straighten themselves and start swimming.
Moreover, healthy newborn guppies often swim in ascending order, this shows perfect health, but guppies that are stressed or not fully formed are found at the bottom of the aquarium as they sink.
Guppy Pregnancy
Female guppies can become pregnant after their three weeks birthday, and if the females are not quickly parted from male guppies, they can deliver once every month consistently for a decade.
Guppy lovers must swiftly learn to spot the signs of a pregnant guppy in the tank. It is essential you also know weight gain and the blackening of the gravid spot close to the anus below the tail.
The pregnancy period for guppies is usually from 21 to 30 days (within 22 to 26 days most times) according to the aquarium’s temperature, cleanliness, and the female guppy’s health. Close to the end of the pregnancy period, the female will display signs of the imminent birth.
Pregnant Guppies Signs Of Delivery
Fish display different signs when they are close to delivery, guppies are no exception, and every female guppy will show similar signs when she’s ready to give birth. The nuggets below will guide you when next your guppies are pregnant.
- The female navel during the gestation period is usually box or square in shape.
- The gravid spot is very black or dark
- Female guppy that is almost ready to give birth will start finding a hiding place in the tank.
- Variation in eating behaviors, such as snubbing food.
- Quivering or shuddering signs during contractions
- Consistent, rapid breathing, this can be scary if you have not seen it before.
When a female guppy displays symptoms that she is set to give birth, the best suggestion is to isolate her to a delivery tank or net inside the standard tank or in a separate aquarium.
Conclusion
Whenever a pregnant guppy is pooping many times than the norm, most of the time, she will give birth in an hour’s time though some female guppies start having high poops from the second week of pregnancy.
It will amaze you that a female guppy can become pregnant immediately after delivering fry because they can store sperm in the body for many months, and not all their sperm get fertilized at once.
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