http://forum.aqua-fish.net/ A forum devoted to aquarium fish, plants, techniques and fish keeping as a whole. en http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=gupppies-and-platy-problems-#1 I need some help clarifying if me fish gave birth without me knowing. One of my guppies gave birth last week and she gave birth to 12 guppies. Now I was told that the black spot of the back of her body would go away after she was done giving birth. When she was done the black spot only got smaller and was still clearly visible; I also noticed her stomache (or sack (whatever its called)) collapsed slightly. I let her stay in a breeder contraption for a day just to be sure she was finished. When she was finished, she was still pretty fat. I also have 2 more guppies and 2 platys that are also pregnant. I haven't put any of them into a breeding tank until today because I woke up this morning only to see that all of there stomaches looked as if they collapesed slightly. There spots are still there and they are still fat so is there anyway i can tell if they gave birth or not. I am worried that they all gave birth while I was sleeping and all my fish just ended up eatign all the fry. Marko795 2010-03-15 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=gupppies-and-platy-problems-#2 That is definately a possibility, they will get pregnant again and in time you will know exactly how long it takes them to give birth and will be ready for them. mickey 2010-03-19 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=gupppies-and-platy-problems-#3 Most mature female guppies will have a 'gravid spot' or 'black patch' Even when they are not pregnent. As for breeding traps, I recomend that you do not use them. By placing your females into breeding traps you put them under stress and and by doing so you may cause the female to internally abort some of the fry. What I would would recomend is putting your female into an all glass aqariaum with a bit of the synthetic wool used in filters. Tease out the wool a bit. The wool will serve as a hiding place for the fry without stressing the female guppy in a breeding trap. As for females eating their fry. Livebearing mothers will release a hormone that will supress their appitites while they are near giving birth and for a while after. Have you ever noticed them spitting out their food? Its not really the mum you have to look out for when she's giving birth but rather the other fish! Good luck with the platys and the guppies Marko795! jirajustin 2010-11-07 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=gupppies-and-platy-problems-#4 By the way. It is very likely that the guppy gave birth. The fry were probably eaten by hurgry others! You'll just have to wait until she gets preg again! In my experince guppies usually take about 4-6 weeks to give birth jirajustin 2010-11-07