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Pregnant fish tend to gain a lot of unwanted attention from other fish in the same tank. Separating the pregnant fish can be the key difference in allowing them to complete their birthing process. If you’ve noticed that your guppy is pregnant, you’ll want to make sure to give it its own secluded space.

If this is your first time dealing with a pregnant guppy, you may not be sure when the right time to separate it from the others. In this article, we will provide you with everything you need to know in order to help your guppy have a healthy and successful birth.

The Need For Separation

Before separating your pregnant guppy away from any other fish, you’ll want to understand why this is important in the first place. There are a few key reasons why separation is vital and all of them have to do with protection and health. 

Once a guppy becomes pregnant, male guppies (and other male fish in general) will begin to harass and chase her. In order for a female guppy to have a successful birth, she needs to remain as strong and healthy as possible. Male fish are relentless towards a pregnant female and they will literally exhaust her to death.

Another reason to separate your pregnant guppy is to protect the fry upon birth. Although guppies generally give birth after 3-4 weeks of pregnancy, you may not always know when they are going to give birth. If a pregnant guppy manages to stay alive in a tank with other fish, the fry she births will most likely be eaten.

The best way to protect both the pregnant guppy and all her fry is by separating her for the entire length of her pregnancy.

How And When To Separate

In order to know when a female guppy should be separated from other fish is by first knowing when she becomes pregnant. As soon as you realize she is pregnant you will want to separate her immediately.

It may be hard to tell whether your guppy is pregnant at first unless you saw your guppies mating. If you weren’t able to notice that, the easiest way to spot a pregnant guppy is by looking at her. If your guppy is pregnant, she’ll have a bulge in her abdomen that’s noticeable when compared to other guppies.

Another way to tell if your guppy is pregnant is by watching how other fish react to her. If you weren’t able to spot a difference in her abdomen but notice the male fish in your tank beginning to harass her, there’s a very high chance that she is pregnant.

As soon as you are able to see these differences in your female guppy you will want to separate her as soon as possible. When you separate a pregnant guppy from her original tank, it’s important to make sure you do it carefully.  

If you already have a small tank set up with clean, safe water, simply scoop the pregnant guppy with a fishnet and place her in it. If you don’t have this ready, it’s not worth the risk of hastily setting one up. 

Another option is to place her in a breeder box that hangs on the side of your original fish tank. If you do this, you’ll want to make sure to use the same water from the original fish tank that she is already used to. 

When To End Separation

Once separated, you should keep your pregnant guppy away from all other fish until she gives birth. As soon as your female guppy gives birth, it’s safe to put her back in the original tank with the others. It’s important to do this as soon as you see her fry because, like most fish, guppies will eat their own babies.

Helping your guppy to fulfill her goal of reproduction is an exciting and fun process to be a part of. Now that you understand what it takes to assist her with this process, you should be able to see your pregnant guppy have a successful bunch of offspring.

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Guppies are one of the most popular types of tropical fish in freshwater aquariums. This is because they are generally easy to care for and are also fairly affordable. However, for guppy owners who may have noticed that their fish has become pregnant, a common question may be popping up into their head: do guppies die after giving birth?

The short answer to the question is: yes. Typically, female guppies will die after giving birth. While this can be quite sad and disappointing, it is also an occurrence that makes evolutionary sense. Because guppies give birth to live fish rather than laying eggs, their babies are more like little adult fish, so they don’t require much maternal care.

Thus, it’s not really necessary for a guppy fish to stay alive after giving birth. However, that doesn’t mean that all pregnant guppies are fated to die after they give birth to their babies. There are ways you can try to prevent it. 

Why Do Guppies Die After Giving Birth?

Scientific studies have shown that the reproductive period in a guppy’s lifespan is the most important. This is because guppies generally don’t live for very long and therefore need to be able to reproduce rapidly and in large numbers in order to survive as a species. Thus, evolution has essentially put all of a guppy’s power into its reproductive ability.

That means that, when a guppy gives birth, it has basically fulfilled its evolutionary purpose. Newborn guppies don’t require postnatal care from their mother, since they are birthed live and are already fairly well-developed. Though it sounds harsh, there is really no point in a guppy surviving after giving birth. 

Are There Other Factors at Play?

Of course, evolution isn’t the only reason that guppies tend to die after giving birth. In fact, there are several factors that could make postpartum guppies more likely to die. For example: stress. Yes, even little fish can be stressed out. Giving birth is an extremely laborious process for guppies and it can make them quite weak.

The physical stress of birth alone is often enough to kill them, but it’s also common for male guppy fish to harass the females once they’ve given birth, making them even more stressed out and resulting in their eventual demise. 

Other factors like pregnancy complications and sickness can also lead to your female guppy fish dying after birth. Complications during the pregnancy are rare in guppies, but they also cannot be prevented. Furthermore, while ill guppies can be pregnant and give birth, their immune system will be weakened after the fact, making them more susceptible to death by that illness.

How Can I Prevent My Guppy from Dying After Giving Birth?

Unfortunately in a lot of cases, there is not much you can do to prevent your guppy fish from dying after giving birth. However, don’t lose faith! You do have a few options.

• Firstly, you can use a breeder box to separate the pregnant guppy during and after labor to decrease the likelihood it will be stressed out by its tank mates. 
• Another way to potentially prevent your guppy from dying after giving birth is by paying attention to the water conditions. As mentioned previously, a guppy’s immune system is often negatively affected by pregnancy and labor. Make sure that you are maintaining the tank’s cleanliness, temperature, and pH levels consistently throughout the pregnancy.
• Also, make sure that you aren’t moving a female guppy to a brand new tank after it has given birth can be extremely detrimental. A new environmental can shock the fragile guppy and cause her a lot of stress, resulting in her potentially dying. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, while it is highly likely that your pregnant guppy fish will die after giving birth, it’s important to keep in mind that this is not a tragedy and is in fact fairly normal.

Still, there are some things you can do to prevent the death of your pregnant guppy fish, such as reducing factors that might cause it stress and ensuring that you maintain its tank properly. Review our suggestions and enjoy the wonders of owning an aquarium teeming with guppies!

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You may have read that guppy fish are not particularly picky eaters. There is no denying that guppy fish seem to eat whatever is on offer. So…

Yes, Guppy fish will and can eat algae. If you have an overgrowing algae problem, introducing guppies to the tank can be a great way to help reduce algae levels.

If you have an aquarium or tank, you will know how fast it can turn green from algae. Although guppy fish only eat a small bit at a time, they will make a difference in how quickly that thin layer of green algae forms on the top of the water or against the glass or the tank, if at all.

What Even Is Algae?

Algae—or alga in the plural—although being green is technically not a plant. It grows like plants but lacks the same structure and growth systems. 

‘Algae’ is In fact a term given to a large family of cells that live off light. Like plants, they use photosynthesis to create energy from the sun’s light. As you may know, photosynthesis relies on a chemical called chlorophyll which gives plants and alga their green color. 

Algae will grow in your aquarium or tank because of spores. Spores are the airborne particles that algae give off in order for it to spread to other bodies of water. Most, if not all tanks will develop algae naturally. 

Although some may like the forest-like green look, it will be harder to observe your fish and other inhabitants of the tank. Not only that but some algaes will deplete the water of nutrients needed by fish and other living things in your tank. Guppies can fix that problem in some cases…

Types of Algae Guppies Like to Eat

There are hundreds of types of alga out there, but there are a few that your guppy will be happier to eat. Make sure to find out what the algae growing in your tank is before you decide on guppies as the solution.

Treating either of these types of algae with hydrogen peroxide will get the guppies nibbling away in no time at all. This is done by adding a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to your tank. Make sure you’re adding the right amount, though. 

The algae will absorb the chemical and become delicious to your guppies. So…

• Staghorn Algae – As the name suggests, this algae looks like the horns of a stag growing out from the floor or decorations in the aquarium or tank.
• Black Beard Algae – This type of algae is hard to get rid of. It grows like a fuzzy black beard on the edge of plants in the tank. Without guppies in the tank it will spread and be a nuisance. Guppies will keep Black Beard algae growth under control if you have enough of them.
• Surface Algae – Many different types of surface algae are also eaten by guppies. If you see your guppy picking at the glass or bobbing up to eat algae off the surface of the water do not worry. The algae will not cause any harm to the guppy. In fact, it will keep them entertained for days.

Why Do They Eat Algae?

Guppy babies—commonly known as guppy fry—eat the algae as a source of protein that is small enough for their mouths to get around. For adults however, the algae is eaten more commonly as a byproduct as they search for other foods hiding in the algae.

Guppies may not just eat the algae as a food however. As algae absorbs nutrients and oxygen, it takes it out of the water. Guppy fish rely on oxygen in the water to breath. Therefore, guppy fish may actually be making sure their habitat is suitable rather than eating.

Guppy fish would have evolved this trait in order to keep the water they live in clearer and more advantageous to finding food. If algae gets too overgrown, your guppy fish will struggle to survive. It is important to have some algae for them to nibble on, but not too much as it will hurt them.

Conclusion

Because guppies naturally eat algae, there is no cause for concern. Introducing guppies to your tank may even be an efficient way of keeping the ecosystem self-sustaining.

Research what type of algae you have, and whether guppies are the solution.

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Your guppy has been pregnant for about three weeks now, and you know that the delivery is coming any day now. You’re excited but also nervous because you don’t remember the pregnant guppy signs of delivery. We’ve got you covered!

We’ve compiled a list of signs that will happen to your pregnant guppy before she delivers. Watch for these signs closely, especially if she’s at the end of her gestation period.

1. Her Shape Begins to Change

One of the easiest pregnant guppy signs of delivery to spot is the change in the shape of your guppy.

Female guppies get a lot more bulky, and they start to take on a boxy shape on their abdomen. If you have other guppies in the tank, it’s best to look for this change before you feed all the other fish.

Sometimes the other guppies’ stomachs might become distended after feeding time. This may make it a lot more challenging for you to differentiate between a pregnant belly and a full belly.

2. The Gravid Spot Darkens

The gravid spot on guppies tends to have a triangular shape, and it’s located near the anus. This spot gradually darkens and enlarges throughout the entire pregnancy. 

When a guppy is about to deliver, you’ll notice that the gravid spot becomes a lot darker, almost even black. If your guppy is albino or yellow, you can be on the lookout for the gravid spot to be pink or orange.

3. Drastic Change in Her Eating Habits

Sometimes pregnant guppies will have a significant change in their eating habits right before delivery. This can be habits like refusing to eat or even spitting out food. You may notice a complete change from when she first became pregnant, as she may have been eating a lot more food than normal.

4. She Becomes Inactive

A female guppy might be preparing for delivery, if she becomes unusually still or decides to sit in one place and forfeit swimming. You’ll probably find her near the heater or a corner of your fish tank that allows her to hide and isolate herself.

5. She Starts Trying to Camouflage

The guppy may not be able to go completely incognito, but her color will begin to fade a little as it gets close to delivery time. It’s her natural instinct to help her camouflage with her surroundings and further isolate herself from other fish.

6. Her Anxiety Begins to Increases

A female guppy that gets extremely anxious when you come near her is likely preparing for delivery. To calm her anxiety, it’s best to provide her with a few hiding spots. Taking a quick trip to the locak pet store and getting some plants and other decorations could greatly benefit her during this time.

7. Aggression Begins to Increase

Female guppies who are about to give birth will become aggressive and agitated. She might start nipping the fins of males who are looking to mate with her. She could also begin to chase them if they keep bothering her. This is one reason why separation right before and during birth is so important.

8. She’ll Look Like She’s Shivering

When you notice your pregnant guppy flex her spin to point her tail upwards, you might think she’s shivering or just deciding to swim in place. However, this is an indicator that she’s having a contraction and ready to deliver any minute!

You might find this to be one of the most exciting signs that a pregnant guppy is about to deliver. It’s the sign that comes right before delivery, so you know that the pregnancy is definitely coming to an end, and soon, she’ll have her babies.

Conclusion

Some of the signs are easier to spot than others, but it’s important to watch very closely. Guppies are known to eat their fry right after delivery. Leaving your guppy unattended because the delivery signs had gone unnoticed will leave her fry susceptible to be eaten.

Studying your guppy throughout all the changes in her pregnancy will surely help you identify if anything has gone amiss before delivery. You’ll be able to take all the necessary precautions for her to have a safe and beautiful birth.

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