Mickey mouse platy babies

[HeathBish]

I got some new mickey mouse platys. Went to feed them yesterday and noticed babies everywhere. I know they will be eaten so I moved as many as I could. How long do I have to keep them separate from the big fish?

 

[Leeatl]

Until they are big enough not to get eaten . Depends on what other fish you have in with them . I only keep Platies so it doesn't take long till the adults can't eat the babies . Helps if you have a lot of plants for the little ones to hide in...lol

 

[HeathBish]

Until they are big enough not to get eaten . Depends on what other fish you have in with them . I only keep Platies so it doesn't take long till the adults can't eat the babies . Helps if you have a lot of plants for the little ones to hide in...lol

I have 4 MMP and a betta. The Betta is old though and he won't be around much longer. So you think like 1-2 weeks?

 

[Leeatl]

May take 4-6 weeks . What kind of tank do you have the babies in now ? If you can feed them 3 or 4 times a day they will grow faster . I just grind up flake food small as dust till they get a little bigger then they can eat the flakes in a little larger pieces . You can watch them and see when they can eat larger pieces .

 

[Fishobsessed7]

Frequent large water changes combined with heavy feeding will allow for the fastest growth.

 

[HeathBish]

I have a 5 gallon I moved them to. No filter (isn't working), but has a heater. Staying at 76F. How often should I do water change, and what %?

They just started eating yesterday.

 

[Leeatl]

I would probably change a gallon or so a day if you don't have a filter . If I were you I would get a breeder box so you can keep the babies in your main tank with filtration . Hope that makes sense .

 

[HeathBish]

I would probably change a gallon or so a day if you don't have a filter . If I were you I would get a breeder box so you can keep the babies in your main tank with filtration . Hope that makes sense .

That does make sense. I've never had a fish that give live birth so this is all new to me.

 

[Leeatl]

Well,as long as you have platies you will have babies so don't stress if you lose this batch .

 

[Assos]

You can buy a small cheap filter for your small tank, I bought one for my 5 gallon shrimp tank from amazon. Better than changing the water every day

BETTA 150 Aquarium Fish Tank Internal Filter

 

[Leeatl]

You could buy a small filter for the small tank , but , if you don't seed it with bacteria from an established tank/filter then you will still have to make water changes daily. Even baby fish need a filter to handle the nitrogen cycle .