is this platy pregnant? - Aquarium Advice

xystizi · 05-02-2009, 06:59 PM

Hi,

Could someone tell me if this platy is pregnant? I have her with a male cherry platy and I am not sure if they could breed together. I think she looks pregnant but not sure how far along is she. The male has been harassing her more lately and I don't really know why. If she is pregnant, would you be able to tell me how many more days before she drops fry?

Thanks.

colematthewmalaka · 05-02-2009, 07:01 PM

She looks pregnant. I'd say in about a week she'll have them put her in a breeding separator because it's kind of hard to tell when she'll pop.

xystizi · 05-03-2009, 02:44 PM

I bought a tank divider and separated the female from the male. Would this stress out my pregnant female platy? How long can I keep her separated without causing health problems? I don't want to put her in a breeder box because I've read about some females aborting the fry.

Floyd R Turbo · 05-03-2009, 09:21 PM

My fish have had 1 platy fry, 20 guppy fry, 28 molly fry, and 40+ swordtail fry. I found the platy fry purely by accident when cleaning the tank, I'm guessing he was the survivor.

I caught almost all the mollies being born on tape. All others happened when I wasn't watching. The were all born in a 10g bare tank w/sponge filter & heater with a big clump of hornwort thrown in there so the fry can hide from the mama fish.

The tank separator is a good idea as far as keeping the male/female apart, but I would go to an LFS and get a good-sized clump of hornwort (it's cheap) and throw it in on both sides, 'cause the fry are so small right after they're born they're hard to see & easy for the big fish to eat - in fact, the only way I know when my fish dropped their babies is that they are noticeably thinner, then I have to search for the fry - always hiding in the hornwort. They feed off of it too.

It is a good idea to soak the plants in an Alum solution to kill off any hitchhiking snails/eggs and/or diseases, I read about doing that on some other thread, 3 teaspoon Alum to 1 gallon of water, soak for 3 hours.

Here I found the thread, look to the bottom

so many snails and how

colematthewmalaka · 05-03-2009, 10:54 PM

platy fry are cool they grow slow but if you leave for a few days and come back they'll look like giants. lol

xystizi · 05-06-2009, 03:58 PM

I've taken off the divider since she seemed so lonely by herself but I have introduced two female platies that I have quarantined for 6 weeks into the main tank, hoping that the male chase after them instead. However, it seems that theory didn't work well as he still keeps chasing after my blue platy and does the annoying darting thing, almost bumping into her so many times. He looks like he chases the other females away. Grrrr.. What is he possibly thinking?

Is this behavior normal? As there is now 3 to 1 ratio, he should be getting ON with the other 2 females, right?

thatmagicguy · 05-06-2009, 04:09 PM

Male livebearers are very attracted to females that are about to give birth. After they have their young the males are especiallly eager to mate with these females. If you want fry to survive you need to have this female in a tank by herself with bunches of fine-leaved plants. Platys are notorious for holding on to young well past the standard "gestation" period. Sometimes it can get frustrating waiting.

colematthewmalaka · 05-06-2009, 04:22 PM

don't move the female to much. This is the main reason they abort fry.

xystizi · 05-06-2009, 04:46 PM

I'm more concerned about the mother platy than getting fry at this point. I haven't moved her or taken her out of the tank except for gently guiding her to the other side of the divider which I have taken out. Would you advise to put the divider back with just her on one side? Or can I have the other females with her so she won't get lonely on the other side? I am afraid of the male stressing her so much.

thatmagicguy · 05-06-2009, 04:54 PM

Well then if you can securely divide her she will be fine. Fish don't get "lonely" and the male following her and trying to breed with her is stressful. In the wild or in larger tanks and pools fish that are close to giving birth try and find a quieter or more accurately a more secluded spot to give birth. If you divide her then put some plants in there so the babies at least have a chance. And then move her back on the other side once she has given birth. Platys are less sensitive about disruption near birth than mollies are but the last poster was correct in that they need to be moved as little as possible as birthing approaches.