Are My Two Platies Near Labor?

[Kevin8688]

I have these two blue plates, that are looking kind of pregnant. One of my blue plates already gave birth to some fry but not in my breeding trap. I have these two blue plates that look like they are near labor but I

[/img] would really like a helpful eye to tell me if they are close or not. I don't want to keep them in the breeding trap if it's not necessary. I'll put some pictures of both of them, they are in the breeding trap for the moment. I'd also like to know what would be an ideal time to leave them in there for. I do know about how I must look for the boxy shape and the birthing tube and other strange behavior.

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[Akasha72]

I'd say they are both pregnant but not squared off enough yet - I'm going by my own experience here but my platies become really flat along the bottom of their bellies when they are ready

In all of your pictures there's still that slight point to the belly. Personally I'd set them free and keep an eye on them for the next few days

 

[ninjacheesefish]

I'm agreeing with Akasha72. They're definatly pregnant but I wouldn't say they were close to dropping their fry. Their birthing tubes aren't open and their bellies aren't flat yet.

Take a look at this for more detail: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/253113-how-to-know-if-your-livebearers-ready-to-drop-fry-updated-150412/

I'd release them and then put them back into the breeding traps once their bellies are flat. Maybe put some plants or something into the breeding traps? It reduces the stress of the fish.

 

[Kevin8688]

Alrighty thank you. I was also wondering if they should be able to poop when they have their birthing tube open. Also they aren't that old so I'm not sure if that might change things. Also I've added an algae wafer because they love picking on it so they don't get to stressed would you say that's alright?

Thank you for your help I'll let them go and keep an eye on them. How far along would you say they are from the pictures? If you need more from different views I can take some real quick before I let them out the breeder since it's easier.

 

[ninjacheesefish]

Yup, mine pooped when she was in labour. I don't think that age makes too much of a difference. Algae wafers should be fine, as long as their eating it, its fine.

I'm not an expert, but I would guess less than a week. They're fat, but not that fat. If that makes sense...

 

[Akasha72]

sometimes when the birthing tube opens I've seen my platies pass some pale stringy poo right before they start dropping. I understand this is normal.

In terms of their age, I'd say they are probably around 6 months or so - possibly a bit more. I have some young platies that I bred myself that were born at xmas - they started having fry at around 4 months old. The fry were incredibly tiny and possible born a bit premature but they survived okay.

Mine love an algae wafer too - in fact they'll eat just about anything. It's fine to feed them in the trap but you will find if they are birthing they probably won't eat until they're done. Then they will be ravenous

Does that help?

 

[Kevin8688]

Okay I just finished letting them go I read somewhere that they get the boxy shape 24 hours before they give birth is that true?

 

[Akasha72]

I can't say I've noticed how long it is after the boxy shape occur's. I just notice they're huge and squared off, look at their anal area for the open tube and know they're about to drop.

 

[Kevin8688]

Yes it does ty. I have around 8 panda plates that just turned 1 month old couple days ago. I have them in a mash net should I wait another month to let them out in the community tank?

 

[Akasha72]

hoping this picture may help you. Here's a picture of one of my platies that's getting very close. She's just starting to square off

As for your fry, keep them in the net a bit longer. They're still eat-able at around a month old. I'd give them another 2-3 weeks unless your tank is heavily planted with hiding places

 

[Kevin8688]

Shes extremely huge xD. That does help thank you, so shes close to giving birth but not squared of yet so when shes a bit square you would move her over to the breeding cage right?

 

[Akasha72]

no, I'm going to leave her in the tank and let nature do it's thing. Her sister was that size last night but back to slimline platy today - guessing she dropped in the night.

My tank is fully stocked, plus the platies don't like to be netted so if I find fry I net the fry out and move them into my smaller tank that's become the nursery now.

I've found that the easiest way with the platies. The guppy swims into the net and goes in the trap happily the platies are the complete opposite

 

[Kevin8688]

That's how it's been for my panda platy and my one blue platy, I've even setup a nylon sock on the filter head so it doesn't eat one of the babies if they were to come. It was extremely hard to take them out with a net since they were so quick and they would go deep into the small gravel holes. Which is why I decided to try out the breeding trap. Its been 1 month since my panda platy gave birth to her last and first batch of babies. She hasn't shown any signs of pregnancy and shes still slim. What would you say is going on with her?

 

[Akasha72]

What would you say is going on with her?

Nothing, she's just being a fish! If she's had one lot of fry there will be more all in good time. My guppy drops fry every 4-6 weeks but the platies seem to take a break in between drops.

You will eventually get to the point where you will be asking them to take a break. Raising fry is far from simple. Water changes and feeding 3 times a day and then finding a home for them is all time consuming.

This is the reason I've decided to leave mine to it and let nature do it's own thing.

 

[Kevin8688]

Thank God, it's just that I've read that they reproduce like crazy and give birth every month and since I saw it wasn't showing pregnancy signs I thought there might be something wrong with her. When you leave your female in the tank to give birth the natural way do the other fish eat them? With the provided hiding places.