Guppies and Breeding

[Jramatized]

I purchesed 2 guppies today. A male and a female..I hear these are really easy to breed. I have them in a breeding net right now, just for the **** of it. I forgot which is the male and which is the female. How can I tell them apart???Also how do I know when she is preggy? What do I look for? I read that they will have a spot u can see in them? But they both have spots I can see in there belly. Im going to buy a few more tomorrow in hopes the breeding chances will rise. I have tehm a in a community tank. 29 [acronym:ddab2510bd="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:ddab2510bd]. Pretty well planted and gravle at a temp of 87 F

Any hints, tips, or tricks is appreciated..

thanks in advance

[Jramatized]

Oh yea

I forgot to mention.. One of them( the bigger one, with the bigger belly) is acting kinda strange. he/she keeps putting her tail down and head up and its fins are fluttering a lot. I dunno if this si due to stress or shes preggy and wanting give birth??I just moved them to the breeding net in case/

[Jramatized]

lol one more thing.. The pet store I got them frmo had the males in one tank and the females in the other. So I dunno if it could be preggy?

[frog girl]

Usually the male guppies have sort of bright shiny decorations near the tail which they show off to the females. They are iridescent or colored spots. I don't think you need a breeding net because guppies breed like rabbits & the fry will hang out in your plants. The adults will probably be less stressed if you let them wander around.

The fin fluttering could very well be courtship. You will know if one of them is pregnant because she will swell all up & get a dark spot in front of the caudal fin & right near the cloacal opening.

However the 87 F seems sort of high to me. But I have never really kept guppies so someone else will have to comment on that.

[Jramatized]

yea the temp is a lil high, but I was curing for ich and never dropped it. kinda scared to lol

[BASSNMAN]

The males are smaller and more colorful. The primary difference is their belly fin. The female has a wide fin, the males fin will look like a spike. The spot on the belly will be black when they are prego.

[Apocalypse_Gold]

The male's tail fin is usually significantly larger in relation to its body. If you think the one is "with fry" take the other one out. Guppy dads think a mommy dropping fry is a moving buffet. Also, if your female has ever been around a male it is possible for her to be pregnant. Most livebearers can have multiple batches of fry from only one mating. More efficient but less fun.

[aquazen]

I don't go by the dark spot rule. It turns dark also if they're full of poop. Best way to tell is that the female becomes fat.

[FancyGuppyGuy]

usually the front part od the females belly will get fuller and the back part will get bigger and square off when they are close to giving birth. They also tend to hide or get away from other fish and at times become aggressive towards other fish coming near them.

As far as breeding goes the male will constantly be trying to breed almost 24/7 and they will become pregnant within a day or two if they are not already pregnant.

They can carry sperm to have more fry for 5-6 times without a male being around.

Males will have longer fins and be more colorful. females are usually larger than males.

[Jramatized]

well the male died the first night I had it.. BUT my female had babies. I just discoverd them today. I have only found 12 as of now. They was all in the fake plants and still may be some in the log. Anyone know how long she has babies or how many APPROX.? I dont know when she had them, but I have them in a breeding net to keep away from the other fish. The female is still free swimming in the tank. Oh and what can I feed them? I have some fresh dried brime shrimp that I crushed to powder pretty much and dropped it in there. All I have is flakes and that shrimp. then I have some frozen treats which I know they cant eat. Will they be ok with fine crushed flakes or the shrimp>?