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Guppy Breeding Fish Science Experiment for Kids

January 6, 2021
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by Beth Gorden

Amaze your kids with this Fish Science Experiment where your kids will breed guppies while learning about genetics, fish life cycle, and so much more! This guppy science fair projects is perfect for kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, and Jr High students. We’ve included not only the procedure for the fun science project for kids, but a free printable observation book to help your students write down observations too. So make science for kids outrageously fun with this living, breathing science experiment for kids. Simply print pdf file with science notebook and you are ready to explore and learn!

Amaze your kids with this Fish Science Experiment where your kids will breed guppies while learning about genetics, fish life cycle, and so much more! This guppy science fair projects is perfect for kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, and Jr High students. We've included not only the procedure for the fun science project for kids, but a free printable observation book to help your students write down observations too. So make science for kids outrageously fun with this living, breathing science experiment for kids. Simply print pdf file with science notebook and you are ready to explore and learn!

Guppy Science Fair Projects

This science project is a little involved, but teaches kids so many things about animals, life cycle of a fish (see all our life cycles printables),  building an experiment, using the scientific method with kids, how genetics work in a simple way kids can understand, plus a big WOW factor. And other than time, all you need is an aquarium and a couple guppies from the pet store. This EPIC science project for kids is perfect for kindergarteners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, and grade 8 students too. This homeschool science experiment if fun for the whole family and will be a fun science activity you remember for a lifetime.

Breeding Guppies

In typical Beth fashion, one day I just decided – hey let’s breed guppies! My hubby knows by now that once I get an idea in my head it’s best to just go with it. So we set up a 10 galloon tank (we had spare in the garage) in the kitchen (because we’d walk by more often). We went out and bought 3 female and 1 male guppy and we waited. I made a Guppy Observation Book & our Kindergarten Guppy Breeding Science Experiment began.

breeding guppies observations

Fish science experiment

We read information about guppies online. We fed, cleaned, and cared for the guppies. We named and charted on the guppies. And we waited. Learn more about fish for kids in this science lesson.

Guppy Science Fair Projects

Apparently guppies aren’t as hardy as they once were – the pet stores tell me it is from over breeding. Whatever it is we lost a couple females, bought a couple more, and bought a different male because ours seemed unable to perform his purpose.

  • Day 1+ We wrote in our note book about what we observed. We noted what they liked to eat, how they swam, how warm they liked the water, how much they poop (let me tell you it was a LOT), and came up with questions that we then looked up (such as how long do they live).
  • Day 31 days we had 2 babies. Not sure if the rest were eaten or what, but we had 2. (they kinda look like tadpoles)
  • Day 34 we only had 1 baby – the other one was eaten.
  • Day 42 we had 2 more babies. Again, not sure if the rest were eaten. We now had 3 babies

see the baby guppies

  • Day 47 – EUREKA! I noticed about 10 new babies in the tank. I quickly removed all the females (and put them in our 30 galloon community tank)except for the very large female who I put  in a small goldfish style bowl to make sure she didn’t eat the babies. I took out the large fern (which really hadn’t served its purpose anyway) we had put in for the babies to hide in as there were no mommies in the tank to hide from & we could see them better. I went back to check on the Mommy & noticed there were babies in the bowl with her. The kids & I watched her give birth – so cool! After she had 20 she seemed to stop. The bowl was getting crowded so I emptied it back in the 10 galloon nursery tank. I pulled the Mommy back out so she didn’t eat the babies. I went about making lunch & taking care of Tinkerbell & she had 20 more!! Again, I emptied the babies into the nursery & removed the mother. The Mommy guppy didn’t have any more & I placed her in the community tank. After careful counting I discovered we had the original 3 babies plus 55 new babies!! taking a closeup through the glass is hard
  • Day 85 – the 54 babies are growing a lot. They no longer look like miniature tadpoles. They look like miniature fish, about 3/4″ long. The fish are starting to show some color. The baby guppies eat a LOT – like all babies! They are finally eating normal food (no longer baby fry food) 4-5x a day. lots of babies
  • Day 114 – The guppy fish breeding babies are full grown! They are 1 1/4” long & have all the color they are going to get. I decided our observations should be done to get the fish to a better home.

sorting and counting 58 fish!Fish Science Experiments

Not that we don’t enjoy watching them…. but 58 fish in a 10 galloon aquarium isn’t really the best home. It means I have to change the water every 5 days or so! Since it is really hard to count fish when they are one big mob in the small tank, we separated them into bowls – 5 to be exact. This was also a great chance to practice counting by 10s! There were 10 fish in each of the 5 bowls with 8 fish remaining in the aquarium.

Graphing Guppies

Then we counted how many fish of each color there were & graphed them 3 ways:

  • Graphing Guppies in Color on Graph Paper
  • Graphing Guppies with cuisenaire rods
  • Visualizing Guppy Babies on a pie graph
Guppy Fish Color GraphedBaby Fish graphed with Cuisenaire Rods
baby guppy pie graph - conceptualizing a different wayCuisenaire Rods - conceptualizing numbers

Fun Science Experiments

I thought it was neat to see his little brain process the information. He couldn’t conceptualize what the numbers mean, but when we graphed the colors he looked at me with amazement and said – there are WAY more red than any other color! It was pretty cool to see him “get it”

It was a really fun experiment and we learned a lot! Students from preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, grade 7, and grade 8 will love trying this science experiment. I’d really like to try egg layers next…..

Pearl Color Matching Activity

Ocean Activities for Kids

Looking for more ocean activities for kids? You will love these clever, free resources and ideas:

Are your kids fascinated by sea turtles? These large, graceful reptiles are truly amazing! Learn lots of facts about sea turtles for kids in these free printable sea turtle readers filled with lots of information, facts, and the Sea turtles life cycle. Print so children can color, read, and learn about the life cycle of a turtle. This is a great science printable for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade students. ocean activity for kids ocean coloring pages FREE Goldfish Counting Bowls

Ocean Theme

Super fun sand slime recipe that is quick and easy-to-make for your beach theme or a summer activity for preschoolers.  You will LOVE this beach slime! Make practicing numbers, letters, counting, and literacy FUN with these ocean worksheets. These free printable ocean worksheets for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, and 2nd grade students are perfect for exploring the amazing creatures that live under the sea while learning a variety of skills.  Simply print the ocean printables and you are ready for your upcoming ocean theme with lots of no-prep ocean activities. dissolving seashell beach activities for kids Super cute Number sandcastles help preschool and kindergarten age kids practice counting and tracing numbers this summer.

Beach Theme

All About Whales and Dolphins lesson for kids. Printable information, facts, worksheets, label the whale, whale life cycle and more!   Fish for kids lesson plan filled with tons of fun information and facts including shape, camouflage, life cycles, label anatomy, tests, experiments on swim bladder / buoyancy, lateral lines, and more! HUGE Ocean Unit for elementary and middle school kids to learn about the ocean and aquatic animals with engaging lessons, hands on science experiments, worksheets, report templates, creative writing templates, and more!

Don’t miss the other animal studies we’ve created!

 

30 EPIC projects to explore simple machines for kids! These are such fun, hands on science projects for kids of all ages #simplemachines #scienceproject #scienceisfun This fun hands-on human body for kids project is such a fun way to learn about our amazing bodies! These Human Body Playdough Mats are a fun way for kids of all ages to learn about what is inside our body. Learn about human body parts for kids by completing the free printable playdouh mats. Children will learn about body systems for kids as they make bones, skeletal system, muscles, organs, and more! Use these playdough mats as part of a study of anatomy making human body model for kids from toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade students. Simply print the playdoh mats and learn about my body parts for kids with a hands-on science activity. capillary-action-science-experiment-for-kids 100 Amazing Food Experiments for Kids - so many clever edible science projects for kids of all ages to explore chemistry, biology, physics, and earth science! #scienceexperiment #scienceproject #kidsactivities

Fun Science Experiments

Make teaching kids about weather fun and EASY with this free weather unit. These Weather Worksheets help kids explore a variety of weather topics as well as some weather themed worksheet for early math and literacy too. Use these free weather printables as preschool, 1st grade, 2nd, grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade and kindergarten weather worksheets. Simply download pdf file with weather worksheets for kids and you are ready to learn! Look-Inside-a-Volcano-Activity  Hands-on activity to learn about constellations using pipe cleaners, beads, and constellation flashcards for an engaging STEM activity! Use to teach preschool, pre k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade and more about stars, solar system, astronomy or as a fun, educational science activity Get ready to WOW your kids with a super EASY science experiment for kids!  This simple rising water experiment uses common household items to demonstrate a couple scientifc principles such as fire and oxygen as well as air pressure for kids. This burning candle in water experiment is fun for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and  6th graders. Olders students will benefit using the free printable burning Candle in Water Experiment Worksheets as they explore why does the water rise in the candle experiment.

Science Exeriments for Kids

Looking for lots more fun, science experiments for kids? You’ve GOT to try some of these outrageously fun science experiments for kids! We have so many fun, creative and easy science experiments for elementary age children:

Learn how energy is transfered from one object to another in this newton's cradle activity. For this physics experiments for kids, you will make a newton's pendulum to explore how what happens when two objects colide. This newton cradle project is fun for all ages from preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th grade students. With a few simple materials I will show you how to make a newton's cradle; this is a SUPER cool and easy science experiment. This vinegar and baking soda rocket is an out-of-this-world fun AND educational summer activity for kids! Preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade students will enjoy making the baking soda rocket. This how to make a bottle rocket project is one of those really cool science projects your kids will remember forever! Learn about the Parts of the Brain for Kids with this fun brain activity for kids and handy brain worksheets! Children will learn about the functions of the brain for kids as part of our human body lesson. Use this brain project with elementary age students in first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th garde students. Simply download pdf file with brain diagram for kids and you are ready to play and learn with hands-on human body activities for kids! Looking for a super cool kids activity that combines art and science? This super cool drawbot is as fun to make as it is to play with. The scribble bot is quick and simple to put together with things you have laying around the house.  Then make some really cool art projects with the help of your scribble robot. This electronics experient is fun for kids of all ages from preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th graders too. We've included instructions to make this summer activity for kids or use it in your school as an electricity experiment for kids.

Easy Science Experiments

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About the author

Beth Gorden

Beth Gorden is the creative multi-tasking creator of 123 Homeschool 4 Me. As a busy homeschooling mother of six, she strives to create hands-on learning activities and worksheets that kids will love to make learning FUN! She has created over 1 million pages of printables to help teach kids ABCs, science, English grammar, history, math, and so much more! Beth is also the creator of 2 additional sites with even more educational activities and FREE printables - www.kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com and www.preschoolplayandlearn.com

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