A Couple Of Platy Questions

[allan078]

I have 6 Variatus Platy fry in their own 20L tank, and they're doing well - about 2 and a half months old now.

My question is, how long do they tank to reach full size? They're about the size of a small neon tetra just now.

Also i bought 2 new mickey mouse platy today, 1 male 1 female to go in my 85L main tank. They're very small compared to my other mickey mouse though, is there such a thing as a dwarf mickey mouse platy, or are they just quite young?

Apart from a couple of shrimp and 4 white cloud mountain minnows, i have all platys in my main tank. I love platys!

Thanks, Craig.

 

[panda_cory]

The new platys are probably just young if you bought them from a fish shop recently as most of the fish are still young in fish shops!

 

[Akasha72]

it will take them anything up to about 12 months to reach full size but they will start breeding at around 4-5 months old

hope that helps

 

[fluttermoth]

Of course, if fish are kept in tanks that are too small, they won't grow properly. Most fish, including livebearers, produce hormones that stop their growth once it reaches a certain concentration.

If you do enough water changes, you can negate the effects somewhat, so do as many, and as large water changes, as you can and they'll grow quicker

75% - 80% every other day wouldn't be too bad, although daily would be better.

There's no such thing as a dwarf platy

 

[allan078]

Thanks all . Was just wandering because I've never bought a platy that small.

Craig

 

[fluttermoth]

If you have female platies, you'll very soon have lots and lots of tiny platies, all your very own

 

[allan078]

Hopefully! Already set up with a fry tank, so the more the merrier. Also just found out today that my LFS will take fry off me in exchange for supplies like food etc. Initially I was worried I would end up overrun with nowhere to put them when they get bigger!

 

[allan078]

Another question..

Is it possible that a platy could change gender? I bought a red platy a couple of months ago now, and when i got him/her i was fairly sure he/she was female. Now he/she is looking remarkably like a male. If it has happened, it's totally screwed up my male/female ratio!

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Could be a late bloomer. I have guppies but I have one that bloomed a month and a half after all the other boys (and as a result is much bigger in body than the others). I imagine it could be the case for other livebearers too.

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, they don't actually change sex, but some males are very late developers; also very old females can take on male characteristics.