Pregnant Guppy - 36 Days And No Fry

Hello. I put a male guppy in with a virgin female about 36 days ago and no fry yet. I'm fairly sure she is pregnant, but I'm getting worried because she hasn't had her fry yet. Here is a pic of her.

 

Wow, that's a beautiful female! Just keep up with the water changes and watch her - soon or later you will spot the babies. Maybe, already had a few for the first time, but they got eaten. It happens with these fish.

 

Thank you! I'm breeding the females trying to get them to look better than the males. Yeah, they may have been eaten lol. I hope not. I really don't think so though because I have a very heavily planted tank and a bunch of hornwort. With this set up I usually keep about half of the fry. Also, this breed doesn't really eat up their fry much but it can still happen. I'm just worried that she may not drop and I'll lose her. She is my favorite.

Here is a pic of her sister. She's a cutie too. I think she may be pregnant too but only about two weeks.

 

Yeah, she is! My female guppies are pretty dull compared to these... maybe if mine have babies, I could select some nicer ones too...

 

This is a female dragon guppy.
If a female guppy has got a gestation period of 6+ weeks, she may hold the pregnancy. This happens a lot when she's not feeling comfortable enough to drop her fry when she's suppose to be due. In case, no change of comfort may happen, she'll most likely absorb the embryos (or at a later stage the "fry"). This absorption does occur with more species of ovoviviparous livebearers and won't harm the female.

 

This is a female dragon guppy.
If a female guppy has got a gestation period of 6+ weeks, she may hold the pregnancy. This happens a lot when she's not feeling comfortable enough to drop her fry when she's suppose to be due. In case, no change of comfort may happen, she'll most likely absorb the embryos (or at a later stage the "fry"). This absorption does occur with more species of ovoviviparous livebearers and won't harm the female.

Thank you very much for identifying this guppy type. I got them from a a guy and I have been selectively breeding them for more color but I didn't know what they were.
My water parameters are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate, temp 76, pH 7.4, water changes weekly 25-30%. Many plants and only 4 guppies in the 10 gallon. I'm not sure what is making her uncomfortable. I feed many different foods and hatch live baby brine for them. Is there anything I can do to help her?

 

Again, just wait... they will come!

 

I was also wondering, if I want to sell these can I call them dragon guppies or no because I am on the 4th generation and they do like slightly different from the originals. Actually a little prettier.

Again, just wait... they will come!

I'll do an extra water change like you suggested and feed a good amount of baby brine and see what happens. Thank you and Emeraldking for your help. I'm new to breeding guppies, only 5 months in now and I have a lot to learn still.

 

I'll do an extra water change like you suggested and feed a good amount of baby brine and see what happens. Thank you and Emeraldking for your help. I'm new to breeding guppies, only 5 months in now and I have a lot to learn still.

A more frequent water change (no too much water... just about 25-30% should be enough) may trigger them to start the reproduction. For that would simulate the rainfall in free nature which is often a trigger for them to reproduce.
But patience is "key"... Sometimes when you just stop bothering about them, some beautiful things may happen. Et voila! Offspring...!

 

A more frequent water change (no too much water... just about 25-30% should be enough) may trigger them to start the reproduction. For that would simulate the rainfall in free nature which is often a trigger for them to reproduce.
But patience is "key"... Sometimes when you just stop bothering about them, some beautiful things may happen. Et voila! Offspring...!

Lol ok. Thank you. I'll do the water change then leave her alone. Thanks again!

 

You could try raising the water temp. 76° Is a little cool for guppies. Raising the temperature to about 79-80° might help. I have had more luck since I raised the temp, with fewer late deliveries and a higher percentage of live births. While the higher temp has many supporters and some doubters, I did read a couple of research papers that linked warmer temps to faster development of the fry both while developing inside the mother as well as faster growth of the fry after they leave the protection of the mother’s body.
I also keep the pH at about 7.6 and the GH around 5 degrees hardness. While I don’t know if that has any measurable effect, guppies and Endler’s like higher pH and GH, so perhaps it stresses the mother less.
I recently switched to keeping Endler’s Livebearers, but the water parameters for Endler’s are about the same as for guppies. So, since at least half of the females are pregnant all of the time, I leave the temperature at 80° — which is working well in my setup.
Good luck to you and your mom-to-be guppy.

 

Thank you so much skayell. The only reason I don't keep them at 80 is because it shortnes their lifespan by a few months. But, as a registered nurse, I'm in favor of research papers and will raise slowly to 79 and see how that goes for her. I don't know my exact GH, but I do know that my water is moderately hard and my guppies seem to do well in my tank. I have had guppies for about 5 months now and I have around 70 of them and I've only had 2 deaths in those months so they seem to like my water. I'll let you guys know how things go with her.

 

Thank you so much skayell. The only reason I don't keep them at 80 is because it shortnes their lifespan by a few months. But, as a registered nurse, I'm in favor of research papers and will raise slowly to 79 and see how that goes for her. I don't know my exact GH, but I do know that my water is moderately hard and my guppies seem to do well in my tank. I have had guppies for about 5 months now and I have around 70 of them and I've only had 2 deaths in those months so they seem to like my water. I'll let you guys know how things go with her.

You're right about having a shorter lifespan when kept at higher rates. It's true that embryos and fry will develop faster at higher rates but it does result in a shorter lifespan. I myself am breeding guppies ever since the 1970's and I do keep them at lower rates. And they do well. Also reproduction isn't an issue. Guppies which grow up at a lower pace and at lower temperatures will be healthier and stronger in comparison to deliberately fast growers. Commercial guppies are generally raised with a fast growth pace at higher rates. This is one of the reasons why they are a bit more vulnerable. And in that case, it's preferable to keep them at somewhat higher rates to keep them in the same condition as they already were.
But even when you do have guppies which are raised at higher rates, the fry of them can grow up at lower temperatures perfectly.

Also with endlers you can keep those under the same conditions I've mentioned without a problem. I'm keeping endlers ever since end 2003 (practical beginning 2004).

 

I decided to raise the temp only to 78. I'll keep it that way and see how they do. It's only 2 degrees higher than what I was keeping them at so hopefully, all will be well. If I notice stress, I'll turn it down to 77. Thank you for all your help.