You can see the baby fish inside my guppy, is she ready to deliver?

Question

I put my guppy inside a breeding trade, testing it out for the fish time. She is a huge female, she is not too big though, but I can actually see pairs of eyes and fish in her gravid spot, it is sort of dark, but not black, I am wondering if she is going to get birth within a few days, or if there can be babies with eyes and tails inside her while others are still forming? The thing that bothers me is she is not too fat, I do not want to stress her and cause a miscarriage.

Ok, I just added this, I have her in a breeding trap, and what do you mean she is going to have more? She already had some? She did look skinnier from last night... She WAS in a tank with huge angelfish, I never get any fry, so I bought this to try to get some to live for once, I have a breeding net in another tank with some smaller angels (4 babies from my big one, 1 from the pet store) and lots of platies and other livebearers.)

I do love my fish, ladra, I mostly enjoy platies over guppies because the female platies are still good looking xD But, yes, I have had 4-6 (some disappeared over the year) for about a year, 4 now, and never got any babies, a few platies, one hid in my java moss for a few weeks and ate, but must of been eaten, it mysteriously disappeared... and another I took out and put in small tupperwear with bad water quality and died :( The only fish I could get to live were from my 5 gallon tank... now I have a 44 gallon and 29 and non can live *unsure*

I am worried because she i not very fat and only a few babies, she is about a year old... she may in fact be the fish I put in a day after I got it a year ago xD (when I actually had babies from my 5 gallon...

Answer 1

You are too cute! Very thoughful to fish, I love it. I have had guppies and bred them (it's very cool to see different patterns of colours) for about 10 years.

Anyway.... back to topic... sorry.
It is ok to be able to see the babies through the belly. It is very hard to know the exact time of birth, so it is good to have her in the breeding net for now.

When she gives birth, most babies will come out alive. However, some will be born weak and die in a few days, and some others will be born undeveloped (they will be little "ball" shaped fish, pretty much still an egg).

This is completely fine, because guppies are extreme when it comes to pregnancy. I have had some guppies die because they were too big. Once I opened her belly after she was dead, and I actually saved a couple babies :)

If the babies are alive inside, they will come out. And yes, some will still be forming, but will come out anyway... weak and might die.

To not stress her: When you pick her into another section of the tank, DO NOT use a net. This will stress her a lot. Instead, use a cup and (with water from the tank) try to catch her and transport her. So pretty much she will just be swimmming from place to place and wil not be stressed. If you transfer her to another tank, it could be very stressful if the temperature is significantly different, as well as the levels of ammonia, Ph, etc. Keep her in the same tank if you can.

To answer your second portion: Female guppies can have UP TO 3 PREGNANCIES, with only one fertilization. I know this sounds weird, but it's very true. She might give birth a couple more times after this one, even if you keep her away from the males.
Or it could be that she already had some. Guppies will eat their babies. Sh actually already had them, from what you are saying that she is skinnier.

Sorry this answer is long, but I thought it will be helpful :)

Best luck to you! If you have any more questions, go ahead and email me if you want :)

Answer 2

Several non-mammalian animals have reside younger a few snakes do it, a few fish, a few amphibians even do it. there are even 2 animals which can be technically mammals (they have got mammary glands) that lay eggs (spiny echidna(sp?) and platypus). it occurs, the fish that provide reside infants (fry) appear to have a larger good fortune fee according to quantity. they mainly just a max of 20 fry with a larger % making it to maturity, whilst egg layers could have three hundred or extra eggs and a cut down % continue to exist.

Answer 3

yes just put the in another tank if u have other fish or they will eat the babies

Answer 4

I think you should leave her alone until she give birth and quickly return her to the main tank

Answer 5

i have seen eyes in my guppy for 3 weeks now!! dont get to excited