How i can increase loading time of GIF image?

Before AJAX method I add a GIF image but duration of loading time is very short. How can I set time of loading duration and after that AJAX response will show?

            $('.signup p').html('<img src="img/loading.gif" width="40px" height="40px" alt="loading_effect" />');

            $.ajax({
                 url : 'signup_action.php',
                 method : 'post',
                 data : {name,email,password1,dob,gender},
                success : function(response){
                    $('.signup p').html(response);
                }
            });

Here is exactly how you can delay it like this way as :

BY USING .delay() :

 $('.signup p').delay(800).html('<img src="img/loading.gif" width="40px" height="40px" alt="loading_effect" />');

Note : You need to enter the seconds in miliseconds like this way as i.e for 1 Second you will need 1000.

Reference URL For .delay() :

https://api.jquery.com/delay/

OR

Ofcourse another way to do this is as :

$(document).ajaxStart(function() {
       $('.signup p').show();
}).ajaxStop(function() {
    $('.signup p').hide();
});

Reference Links :

.ajaxStart() : https://api.jquery.com/ajaxStart/

.ajaxStop() : https://api.jquery.com/ajaxStop/