Can someone help?

[Kirsty90]

So it's been about 20 years since I last saw a pregnant platy. Can someone please confirm for me that I am correct in thinking this girl is carrying babies? And if so, any clues as to how long she may have left before she births some tiny fry?

 

[emeraldking]

Well, she doesn't look pregnant. But if she is, she's definitely at an early stage.
She's not a genuine platy, btw. Looking at the head and the dorsal, this specimen must have swordtail and variatus platy influence.

 

[Kirsty90]

Well, she doesn't look pregnant. But if she is, she's definitely at an early stage.
She's not a genuine platy, btw. Looking at the head and the dorsal, this specimen must have swordtail and variatus platy influence.

Thanks. I thought because the back of her belly looked so dark that meant she's pregnant?
I'm here to learn for sure.

Can anyone also tell me what is a good ratio for male to females?

 

[Slaphppy7]

Thanks. I thought because the back of her belly looked so dark that meant she's pregnant?
I'm here to learn for sure.

Can anyone also tell me what is a good ratio for male to females?

IMO, a "good" ratio is all females, or all males....livebearers breed like mad, and they can overwhelm a tank in a very short amount of time, by their sheer numbers

 

[Kirsty90]

Well at the moment there's 3 'proper' platys which are males and 3 females all similar looking (shape etc) to the one pictured above. I figured fry would make free live food for the other fish if that makes sense and I could let one have one lot of fry to grow in the other tank to teach my 4 children and let them learn and see

 

[Slaphppy7]

Well at the moment there's 3 'proper' platys which are males and 3 females all similar looking (shape etc) to the one pictured above. I figured fry would make free live food for the other fish if that makes sense and I could let one have one lot of fry to grow in the other tank to teach my 4 children and let them learn and see

Yes, if you have young children, they would certainly enjoy seeing new fry...I know my daughters did, when they were young

 

[Kirsty90]

Yes, if you have young children, they would certainly enjoy seeing new fry...I know my daughters did, when they were young

I used to love it when I was younger so thought they would too

 

[Kirsty90]

These are the others

 

[Colin_T]

The fish in the first post look like swordtails or swordtail x platy. The swordtails are longer in the body and in particular the caudal peduncle region (between the belly and tail).

The fish in your later post (#8) are different colour forms of platies.

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With common livebearers like swordtails, platies, guppies and mollies, you can either keep them in single sex groups (all males or all females), or have 1 male and 6 or preferably 10 or more females.

As a general rule I prefer single sex groups and if you want to breed them, add a male to the tank for a few weeks then get rid of him. The females can carry sperm packets for months and you will get babies for the next 6+ months and the females won't get harassed by males.

 

[Kirsty90]

The fish in the first post look like swordtails or swordtail x platy. The swordtails are longer in the body and in particular the caudal peduncle region (between the belly and tail).

The fish in your later post (#8) are different colour forms of platies.

-------------
With common livebearers like swordtails, platies, guppies and mollies, you can either keep them in single sex groups (all males or all females), or have 1 male and 6 or preferably 10 or more females.

As a general rule I prefer single sex groups and if you want to breed them, add a male to the tank for a few weeks then get rid of him. The females can carry sperm packets for months and you will get babies for the next 6+ months and the females won't get harassed by males.

Brilliant advice. Thanks

 

[emeraldking]

Thanks. I thought because the back of her belly looked so dark that meant she's pregnant?
I'm here to learn for sure.

Can anyone also tell me what is a good ratio for male to females?

To be honest, also non-pregnant females will show a gravid spot with some exceptions.

The fish in the first post look like swordtails or swordtail x platy. The swordtails are longer in the body and in particular the caudal peduncle region (between the belly and tail).

As I've already mentioned before overhere, this specimen looks like a cross between swordtail x variatus platy looking at the head and the dorsal.