How to Breed Female Guppies

The female guppy is a live-bearing tropical fish that can successfully be bred in captivity. After mating has occurred, it will take approximately 28 days before the fish will give birth to its young. Depending on the size of the female, it will give birth to a brood that ranges between 20 to 40 fry. To improve the female guppies' chances of successfully giving birth, the aquarist must understand how to properly breed them.

Things You'll Need

  • Breeding tank
  • Box filter
  • Heater
  • Spawning mops
  • Grassy plants
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a separate tank that has a corner box filter and no gravel for breeding purposes. The tank should have 5 to 10 gallons of water with a heater set to keep the water temperature between 74 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit for breeding.

    • 2

      Add one or two female guppies that are at least 12 weeks old. The female guppy is generally longer than the male with a short tail and colors that are less vibrant. Adding more than one female will help to ensure that mating occurs with at least one of the females.

    • 3

      Select one male guppy to add to the tank for breeding. The baby guppies, or fry, will take on the appearance of the parents so select a male that is brightly colored, healthy and attractive.

    • 4

      Watch each female for signs that mating has occurred. Its belly will become larger and a dark spot near the anal vent will become visible. This spot is called the gravid spot and it will become darker and larger as pregnancy progresses.

    • 5

      Remove the male and any non-pregnant guppies from the tank when you are certain that you have a pregnant female. This will prevent them from eating the fry when they are born.

    • 6

      Feed the female guppy live brine shrimp or worms, such as blood worms or black worms, daily. Provide these meals in addition to flake fish food to encourage good health.

    • 7

      Remove the female guppy from the tank after she has given birth to the fry to prevent her from eating them. Place spawning mops and grassy plants in the tank for the fry to hide in until the mother guppy is safely removed. These plants will also give the fry a place to hide if you are unable to move the other guppies from the tank at all.

    • 8

      Watch the female for signs that she is pregnant again. Because the female guppy can store sperm, it can become pregnant every 30 days without further insemination and will need to be placed back into a breeding tank to give birth.