Why won't my guppies give birth!?

Question

It's been more than 2 months, and none of my guppies have given birth!

And when they do give birth, they only give birth to like, 4 babies...!

There's only been one time where I've gotten more than 20 babies in a batch.

I did a water test yesterday, and the results came out perfect! The pH is right, there's no ammonia, nitrite or nitrate either...

The temperature is around 79-80F, but I read that the gestation period is shorter when the water is warmer...

My fish don't seem to have any diseases either!

So why aren't they giving birth?

Any answers will be appreciated & I will choose best answer!

Thanks!

Answer 1

well they are guppies you have to wait until they become fish

Answer 2

It could simply be that they're eating the babies shortly after they're born--livebearers are pretty notorious for doing that.

[edit] Do you actually SEE your fish giving birth?  Because if not, I still think they're getting eaten.

[edit] Oooh, yeah, breeder nets = bad.  They do nothing but stress fish out.  What you COULD try is a temporary tank divider--when you think a gravid mother is getting close to giving birth, divide half the tank with her on one side and the rest of your fish on the other.  That still might be a bit stressful, but less so than a breeding net.  When she's done giving birth, just scoop out the fry and remove the divider.

Answer 3

maybe they are all men

Answer 4

My sister and I used to breed guppies as well, and I always had trouble finding the babies after the birth... I would see one or two, and my sister would be like " Ok, so theres at least 30..." and I could never see them. Maybe they are just really small, and you will realize that they came when they begin growing! Just an idea :]]]

Also, maybe your fish are just fat?

haha nvm i doubt they are.

Answer 5

I had experience of that as well. The fish will give birth when they get really really fat. You know about the black spot that forms near the belly as well don't you? Anyway, I had fish like that. She gave no birth even when she was ultra fat!!! a few days later I put her in my breeding net again at about... 9 o'clock on saturday night. I heard that guppies give birth at night and in the early morning. The next day I found one baby guppy and I was disappointed. I left the mama and the baby in there. A few minutes later I had 8 more baby fish! Hope this helps...

Answer 6

Something that I've always heard about guppies is that they like relative privacy to birth. When you have one that looks like she's ready to pop place her in a breeder tank/net, turn the light out, and leave the tank alone for a while. Check again in the morning and if the fry are fully formed and ready for life in the tank, she'll have given birth.

Hope that helps! :)