Do female guppies always have a distinctly defined gravid spot during pregnancy?

Question

I am almost 100% sure that my guppy is expecting fry. I don't know alot about the birth process, signs, and what to do afterwards. Every source I look at says something different than another source, and I am constantly torn and I don't know what to believe. Some people say the gravid spot is under the anal fin, some people say its above it. My guppy is orange in color (in case you need that information) and her stomach is starting to look very very big. She is also taking on a boxy shape from the front and isn't eating as much. Here is the link for a picture that similarily looks like her: http://guppyplace.tripod.com/preghby.jpg Her stage of pregnancy looks very similar to this one; body shape. I see the dark gravid spot on this picture, but I'm just not seeing it on my guppy. Anyways, my question is, do all pregnant guppies have distinctly visible gravid spots? Is my guppy pregnant with no gravid spot, or has it simply not appeared yet? If you're an experienced owner, please help!

Thanks alot for everyone who helped me out and answered, I am thinking that she's not far enough yet into the pregnancy for me to see the gravid spot. Keep answering everyone! I need all the information I can get!

Answer 1

it's possible not to see the dark spot, and it sounds like your guppy is short before birth since you're saying that it has a square look to it already
Here is also a video that shows a guppy giving birth
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kFkBjD2Le3k

Hope that helps
Good luck


EB

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Do female guppies always have a distinctly defined gravid spot during pregnancy?
I am almost 100% sure that my guppy is expecting fry. I don't know alot about the birth process, signs, and what to do afterwards. Every source I look at says something different than another source, and I am constantly torn and I don't know what to believe. Some people say the gravid spot...

Answer 3

I couldn't see the picture you were linking to , but maybe you can't see the gravid spot because of the coloring of the fish. All my females are clear so I'm not sure if you would have trouble making out the gravid spot on a fish with colors.From my experience ( I have lots of guppies) all the females have gravid spots , pregnant or not. I have 2 adult females that keep popping out babies and a tank full of fry at various stages of development. As soon as the fry are big enough to get a good look at them (a couple weeks) I can see the gravid spot on the females so I don't believe that's true about the black being the eyes of babies. I did notice , however , that the gravid spot does change color around the time a female gives birth. It turns a pinkish color. I would keep an eye on her, though since you said she is getting big. Keep checking the tank for little ones.

Answer 4

Yes they have a distinct gravid spot. I researched it a ton in the last couple days. My guppy just had fry TODAY, when I got home for lunch there were about 6-8 fry. There is a gravid spot, it's where the fry are at before the female has them. As I researched, some people said they could even see the fry inside the female. If your female does have a gravid spot, then she may be expecting... After she does have fry though, you have to feed her as soon as you notice she's had them. When you feed your fish, you should notice which ones are eating and which ones aren't. Your female shouldn't be eating if she's pregnant. She'll more than likely spit her food back out, if she does put food in her mouth. The gravid spot though, does get darker and bigger as she progresses. On your guppy, look at her from behind, you should still see the gravid spot from the side, she should look like she's going to pop. But what I really noticed before my female had fry, was that she didn't eat near as much, and she didn't swim near as much. She was just kind of in her own world, not wanting to be bothered... Hope I helped, and good luck

Also, make a detail that says to copy and paste your link from http to .jpg otherwise just clicking on it, it doesn't work

Answer 5

Gravid Spot

Answer 6

No, in some guppies that I have bred it is almost impossible to see the gravid spot. This located just above the anal fin and towards the lateral line. At later stage of pregnancy I could see the eyes through the abdomen wall. Thinking about it, you said she wasn't eating much - if you look along the sides of the fish are her scales sticking out? If they are it sounds like she may be 'porcupining' (a fish disease), or she may be egg-bound, again in the fish I've had this happen too there is nothing to be done (I even added epsom salts to the water - under guidence from the aquatic shop!) If however your fish is pregant I would move her to breading trap - this will allow the babies to fall through to the safety of the bottom of the trap - the mother will EAT the babies given half a chance!

Answer 7

Yes all guppies do have it, It may be light in colour or very dark, Some are pink,brown, etc , There is a possibily that your female or the male that got her pregnant is in-fertile.

Answer 8

Because Pet Stores get the female guppies pregnant! They don't mess up and get a male in with the females. The pet stores get the guppies already pregnant when shipped. You should have asked about that in the pet store! Now you might have lots of guppy fry and you don't know what to feed them,how to keep them or anything. Like i said you (might) have lots of guppy fry. Guppies eat their fry (fry means babies) Even their mother does! Your female guppies are all pregnant if they have gravid spots! Good Luck (:

Answer 9

im breed guppys a little big i know that when they get big and fat and have a black line near the rear there pregnent they can have around 10-30 babys per birth and when she has her babys put them in a smaller tank or move the parents they babys will eat very finly crushed flakes