Determining whether a fish is pregnant can be crucial for managing breeding programs, ensuring the health of fish populations, and understanding their reproductive cycles. Several key indicators can help identify pregnancy in fish, including physical changes, behavioral cues, and physiological markers.
One of the most noticeable physical changes during pregnancy is an increase in belly size. As the eggs develop inside the female, her abdomen will expand, becoming noticeably rounder and fuller. This is particularly evident in livebearing fish species, where the eggs are fertilized and develop within the mother’s body.