How to Tell When Mickey Fish are Pregnant

A mickey fish, also known as Mickey Mouse fish, is a type of platy fish. The name comes from the two small dots (ears) and large dot near the tail of the fish. The mickey fish is a live bearer, meaning the babies come out from the mother alive. Breeding occurs easily and often, as readily as every four to six weeks, if males and females are in a tank together. A typical mickey fish is pregnant between 20 and 40 days and will have between 20 and 100 babies at a time.

Things You'll Need

  • Mickey fish
  • Fish tank
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Instructions

    • 1

      Observe any physical changes in your mickey fish. The stomach should be getting bigger and look smooth.

    • 2

      Watch for behavioral changes in your mickey fish. Some of the changes in behavior are your pregnant fish may eat more, stay away from other fish and move slower in the water.

    • 3

      Look for a dark triangular spot near the anal vent. If present, your mickey fish is pregnant.

    • 4

      View your mickey fish throughout the pregnancy. You will be able to detect the eyes of the fry in the mickey fish's belly as it stretches, and the spot near the anal vent will get larger and darker.