Breeding Platties

[fish-r-fancy]

Hi I'm going to the lfs either today or tommorow to pick up 2 platties that I plan on breeding. THis is my first time so I have several questions. I already read the pinned topic on breeding live bearers. I have a 20 gallon tank as my main tank and a 10 gallon tank that I will raise the fry in for 3 months. In the 20 gallon I also have a gold skirt tetra.I have no plants and 2 HOB filters that come with 10 gallon tanks at wal mart. Here is my list of questions:
1. How do you tell the difference between a male and female platty?

2. How old do platties have to be before they can breed?

3. Does anybody have any helpfull hints on breeding platties?

Thank you

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

Have a look here http/www.freewebs.com/torpeteo/platys.html


Try and get one or two pregnant females, these will have the fan shaped fin, be well rounded and have a large gravid spot. If they look like they are ready to explode then they are probally pregnant & can give birth every month for 6-7 monthe without a male present. With 30 to 50 fry every time that should be enough for you

 

[tetraman]

You don't really breed platies, since the come pregnant. I would get one pregnant female. You will have your hands full with the fry, and if you want another batch later, you can breed her to one of her sons.

 

[fish-r-fancy]

Thank you now I have just 1 question. How long will it take once I get the platties before they give birth?

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

They give bith every 4 weeks, almost to the day, so if they are pregnant & showing then about 2 weeks or less. If you are not sure as to wether they are pregnant then assume that if they haven't given birth within 5 weeks then they weren't.

As other posts suggest, they are more often than not pregnant when you get them unless they are still very small or have been keeped seperate (both of which are unlikely unless your lfs take in fish from local hobby breeders).

 

[fish-r-fancy]

When I go to the lfs what should I look for to make sure I get a pregenat platty? Does anybody have a pic?

Also would it be better if I removed all of the fry and put them in the 10 gallon or would it be better off if I left the fry in the 20 gallon and moved all of my bigger fish to the 10 gallon (of course not in a net in a cup or something). And I've been thinking about how I would have to cycle the tank right away but I've figured that out, I'm going to take some of the water out of the 20 gallon and put it into the 10 gallon also I'm going to use one of the filters from the 20 gallon so I should be all set.

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

Look here http/www.guppies.com/forums/attachment.p...mp;d=1110315292

If shes BIG all over she's just fat, if she has a BIG ROUND BELLY and the gravid spot (rear of her belly) is big & dark then she's pregnant. If she looks like she is about toexplode then she will give birth sooner rather than later.

Move the fry rather than the adult fish.

Don't worry too much about cycling as they won't produce much ammonia (tiny fish, very little ammonia) & using the filter media already seeded should be enough.

Try not to overfeed. In fact don't bother with food for the first day, from day 2 feen very small ammounts of baby power food (or liquify if you have it but baby food is ideal as livebearer fry are big enough to eat it). After a couple of weeks change to well crushed adult flake & you can reduce the amount of crushing as they grow.

Feed 4-6 times a day the first couple of weeks, reduce to 2-4 times a day for a couple more weeks then feed as often as you feed your adults.

NO sand or gravel in the tank & keep the bottom clean of uneaten food often. As you will be drawing water off every time you hover then water changes will not be necessary. Just use a tube to hover rather than a gravel cleaner & check before disposing of the water that you haven't syphoned any fry out.

With 10-20 fry the first couple of time increasing to 40-60 thereafter you will have plenty.

Good luck with them.

 

[fish-r-fancy]

Thank you livelifegojump that was very helpful.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Just adding to the above- do not actually buy a female who is just about to give birth; the shock of the move might cause her to abort or even kill her.

 

[fish-r-fancy]

I just returned from the lfs with 2 female platties that are nit pregnant? What are the chances that they will get pregnant without a male present?

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

How big are they? Can you upload photos?

With luck they will have been having 'nookie' at the lfs and will be pregnant. In the first couple of weeks there's not much sign of pregnancy. They can store the sperm for 6-8 batches of fry (1 batch every 4 weeks) so it is quite posible that they don't give birth for a few weeks then every 4 weeks after that.

You can only wait & see. If nothing happens within 8 weeks then you may have to get a male to go with them.

Keep your fingers crossed .

 

[fish-r-fancy]

They are about an inch long and are mickey mouse platties. Right now they are currenly both in the same corner of the tank laying at the bottom. Isn't that a sign of a pregnant fish? They don't seem fat though. I guess I can just wait and see.

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

They are about an inch long and are mickey mouse platties. Right now they are currenly both in the same corner of the tank laying at the bottom. Isn't that a sign of a pregnant fish? They don't seem fat though. I guess I can just wait and see.

They could be mature enough at 1". As for lying on the bottom, mine never did that so it may just be their way of getting used to the surroundings.

Keep watching their bellies & gravid spot. My orange platty appears to have see through round eggs inside her belly at 2-3 week just before turning black & giving birth. She's at that stage now & it's 3 weeks since she dropped her last lot.

Photos if you can.

 

[fish-r-fancy]

I'll try and get some pics up but I have to get new batteries for my camera first.