Fishandbabies
Aquarium Advice Newbie
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2013
- Messages
- 5
Hi,
So I'm a relatively new tropical fish keeper. Everything has been going well, fish all settled, readings all consistent.
But late last night I noticed that one of my platy was very fat, so I did a bit of research on the net. Her size, prominent gravid spot and white dot around her anus indicated that she was heavily pregnant. However, she was swimming around and didn't seem very anti-social, so I figured I'd have a day, or at least a few hours. Woke up this morning and, nope - the other fish, especially the platys, were dancing around her and she was being rather still.
I had no birthing tank/breeder tank - basically nothing - so I did the best I could and moved her to a large black bucket, added some floating weeds and covered the top (I read darkness and calm would be best for her.) I'm certain she started having babies in the middle of the night (she was smaller when I woke up and didn't touch breakfast) but I've managed to 'save' eight babies so far and I think she's still going. The babies so far have been transferred to another tank (I stood water and took water from my 50 gal).
But I basically have no idea what to do! I haven't a clue what I'm doing and I'm sure I've made some big mistakes and lost a ton of babies. Hopefully the 8 will be ok... I'll crushed up some flakes into tiny pieces for them. Can anyone advise?! Thank you!
So I'm a relatively new tropical fish keeper. Everything has been going well, fish all settled, readings all consistent.
But late last night I noticed that one of my platy was very fat, so I did a bit of research on the net. Her size, prominent gravid spot and white dot around her anus indicated that she was heavily pregnant. However, she was swimming around and didn't seem very anti-social, so I figured I'd have a day, or at least a few hours. Woke up this morning and, nope - the other fish, especially the platys, were dancing around her and she was being rather still.
I had no birthing tank/breeder tank - basically nothing - so I did the best I could and moved her to a large black bucket, added some floating weeds and covered the top (I read darkness and calm would be best for her.) I'm certain she started having babies in the middle of the night (she was smaller when I woke up and didn't touch breakfast) but I've managed to 'save' eight babies so far and I think she's still going. The babies so far have been transferred to another tank (I stood water and took water from my 50 gal).
But I basically have no idea what to do! I haven't a clue what I'm doing and I'm sure I've made some big mistakes and lost a ton of babies. Hopefully the 8 will be ok... I'll crushed up some flakes into tiny pieces for them. Can anyone advise?! Thank you!
Last edited: