Are My Plattys Pregnant

[Rosieg83]

Hi I have had my tank up and running now for 5 weeks. I have two swordtails (1 female 1 male) 6 plattys ( 5 female 1 male) 7 zebra danios and 2 corries. Two of my plattys seem rather big and I'm wondering if they are pregnant? How long before they drop? And would you recommend breeding tanks? Or allow the fry to be eaten?

 

[westonsupermanc]

Platys are live bearers and breed very easily if the female has a dark patch behind her caudal fin then yes she is pregnant. It normally takes about 40 days before she starts pushing out the fry. I have set up a separate fry tank covering the filter with an old stocking and have over 80 babies at the moment.

 

[bluesword23516]

She may not display the dark spot. I have had female livebearers who never get that. In about 1 month from the time they conceive they will give birth. They probably got pregnant a week after you got them if they weren't already.  Some will survive on their own. if you have some plants to float on the top this will help keep some alive and if you don't have plants you can use string and just make it into different lengths and tie them on both ends and tie that to the edge of your tank.