Breeding Net Mishap

[Queen Bee]

My boyfriend does nothing, has no male platy, and has tank full of fry. One female had fry in bag before he returned from fish store.

Me...I set up a breeding net. Have a small fry tank cycled and ready to go. Spent about an hour last night catching the most pregnant platy. This afternoon I had 5 fry! Then I noticed the fish keeping close to the end of the other pregnant platy. She had squared off! Spent another 30 minutes catching her. Both in the breeding net, few fry at the bottom below the cage! Went to change for work & in 5 minutes the 2 mom platy had pushed the net away and were below with the babies eatting them!

After getting them out and back into the tank, I look and I have only 1 fry left!

Thought someone might appreciate my efforts, and frustration with trying forever to breed the platy. I guess some people were not meant to be moms

 

[helterskelter]

This is a very common problem. Couple of other options.

Dont trap the females as this is stressful and can cause them to eat the fry. Allow then to drop in the tank and then remove the fry ans and when you see them or a rearing trap.
Yes more work but happier fish as less stressed.

Or do nothing. keep the female in the rearing tank with lots of plants like java moss and then rear the along side the mother/adults depending on it's size.

I rear most of my livebearers in the same tank as the adults.

 

[Queen Bee]

I know the females are having fry, as sometimes when I gravel vac, I will see one, then along comes the gourami or tetra, then gone.

Too many larger fish in the tank for the survival of fry. Lots of plants, hiding spots, but loach and shark are always on the prowl.

Will try other options, but really, did they have to breach the net!!

 

[Curiosity101]

You could try moving the females to the fry raising tank when they're ready to drop. So long as it's stuff with plants plenty of fry should survive, also if you can get some food in there for the female for as soon as she's dropped hopefully she'll eat this instead of hunting for her babies.

Then just remove mum once she's finished and continue to raise the fry in the fry tank.

 

[OldMan47]

If I want a lot of fry survival I tend to use a separate birthing tank and provide heavy cover. The combination means that only the female is a predator in the tank and the cover means she won't find many fry right away. A heavy cover like I use in my guppy tank will produce a constant stream of fry but not in the same high numbers.
My guppy tank

A birthing tank picture with 1 day old fry

The same birthing tank a few weeks later, yes I left her with the fry.