1st Baby Fish!

[Smurf]

Well - a few weeks ago I thought one of my platys was a bit on the pudgy side but thought no more about it and went on holiday. Came back - it was thinner again so presumed the holiday food block had provided less food than I would have done. Anyway - have just found a tiny baby fish so I guess she wasn't just fat

The baby is about 10mm from nose to tip of tail and I guess the rest (how many might there have been??) have either been eaten or been swept up the filter. Ah well...

At the size it is can I leave it - its survived this long afterall - or do I need a breeding tank/net/some kind of way to keep it apart from the rest of the tank. If so - how big should it be before going back in with the others? And should I do a tank clean/water change ASAP because of possible dead fry?

Finally - cute though the surprise new arrival is, I don't want to breed my fish (I was supposed to have had 2 female platys!) & I only have a small tank that can't take many more fish, so is it likely that the lfs might take the male back?

Thanks!

Daisy

Tank mates:
2 red/gold platys
1 chocolate molly (female)
1 bristlenose (about 2 inches currently, female I think)

 

[nosoup4you]

If you have plenty of cover (plants, rocks, etc.) he should be fine. How long ago did you get your Platies? Female Platies can store sperm for quite some time. They can actually have up to 6 drops with no male present...it is possible that she was pregnant when you got her. If you do in fact have a male, I would try and return it to the fish store where you bought it.

 

[malakye]

If you dont want to guarantee the frys safety then leave it where it is it will either survive or be picked off, my guess is it will survive if it has done this length of time. Your female was probably pregnant when you bought it they can store sperm for a while.

 

[Smurf]

my guess is it will survive if it has done this length of time. Your female was probably pregnant when you bought it they can store sperm for a while.

Any idea how old it might be at about this size or is that a silly question because it depends too much on other things?

Now I've found it I'd quite like to keep it - I'm just not that keen on acquiring any more! I'll have a close look at the two platys & see if I can identify the possible male!

Daisy

 

[Victora1984]

ive been doin alot of reaseach past few days on babies and from what i have read its best to net the fry so that the the other fish dont eat them

 

[nosoup4you]

Any idea how old it might be at about this size or is that a silly question because it depends too much on other things?


Daisy

At 10 cm, it is likely a week to 10 days old. I have put fry back into the main tank after they are 1-2 weeks old and have never had a problem. I'd say your little guy should be fine. If you do not want to risk leaving him in the tank and you do not have a breeding net, you could float him in a bowl or large cup in the main tank to keep him isolated for a week to give him time to grow. Feed him 4-5 times a day on crushed flake and change the water in the cup/bowl daily.

 

[OldMan47]

I agree with NoSoup, it is likely about a week to 10 days. It will do fine in the main tank. You were saying you would take back the male but a female platy will produce young at about a 1 month interval for 6 months after last seeing a male.
In case you are trying to figure it out this is a male of another livebearer. Note the long straight anal fin. Sort of like the appendage on a mammal.

This is a female of the same species. Note the triangular anal fin that almost looks like a butterfly wing.

These pictures are Heterandria formosa but the anal fin shape is similar to platies.

 

[Smurf]

Have had a close look & it would seem that I have a male & a female...hmmm... However, lfs reckoned that home aquaria breeding was unlikely due to probable inbred nature of the parents which would most likely result in non-viable fry.

Have left little guy in the tank - he seems to be eating regular flake food & is adept at avoiding the slightly predatory chocolate molly so we'll see. If I end up with 20+ surprise new arrivals I guess that's a problem, but hopefully the lfs chap was right & nature will take its course in the majority of cases. Thanks for your help!

Daise

 

[OldMan47]

I don't know where that came from Smurf. Inbreeding may make it a bad idea to allow more breeding but it certainly won't prevent it. The new fry will be as viable a breeder as any others. Another factor with a platy is that it will continue to produce young from the other fish that it lived with in the past for some time to come, even if its current partner was sterile.

 

[nosoup4you]

It never ceases to amaze me what the fish store employees will tell people to make a sale.