How to tell when a Guppy is about to give birth

[specialk]

On the weekend I put some Guppies in my tank. Of the 5 females, the guy at the fish store told me 4 are pregnant and that I can tell by the black gravid spot. He also said the way to tell they are about to give birth is that after dark the males will start picking at their under bellies, helping the babies out.

Obviously I'm concerned that the fry will be a midnight snack so I've bought a guppy trap for them to give birth in (hopefully they won't all give birth in the one night).

My question is, what other indications will I get that the guppy is about to give birth? How big do their abdomens get when heavily pregnant (at the moment they just look slightly larger than I would say is normal)?

[PumaWard]

Well, the male doesn't help them come out... at the very least the guy saw a male guppy getting an easy snack.

I have only had one guppy that was truly predictable, she would get aggressive towards the other females when they came near here. A few hours before she gave birth, she would seclude herself and breath heavily.

I don't know if this answers your question, but maybe you'll have a few that do this.

[hanzdogz]

my felmale swordtail is pregnant and has water bubbles coming from her adomanan can you please tell me if she is about to give birth ???

[fishcatch22]

probably.

[magafish18]

wow this is what i need to know.