Could It Happen?

[fishkers]

I have a very nice Redtail Dalmation Platy that has been pregnant for a while and tonight you could clearly see her gravid spot you could see all the sets of eyes in her and they were pretty big. So I moved her into a breeding thinger that the fry can drop to the bottom away from the mom because I'm thinking she is about to have them. But my question is, can they abort fry at any stage? Like i had to net her to put her in this thing and the only reason I did it is because I'm a college student and I really can't wake up one morning and fish tons of fry out of my tank.

So can they abort a pregnancy at any stage or is there a point in which they are going to have them no matter what???

 

[theotheragentm]

Yes, aborting fry is something that can occur at any time. If you are looking to save the fry, a separate breeding tank for the mother with plenty of hiding spots is best. If you can't swing that, I personally still prefer birthing in a main tank with lots of hiding spots. It is also a possibility to separate your tank with a screen divider that you can get from any LFS. This should give your pregnant fish more room than just a plain breeding net or breeding trap. Good luck.

 

[Neo8223]

I find that they dont quite abort their pregnancy, but they just delay thair pregnancy a few days. If they actually cant give birth, i have known some of my livebearers to die. But as the previous post said, main tank, lots of hiding places, job done

Possible hiding places:

Hornwart clumped together, floating and planted (live tropical fish plant that is very hardy)
if you own a CO2 kit, then you probably know other plants to use too, but any will do.
Any fake plant
Rocks and other ornements
Marbles (With caution as if you have any egg layers like zebra danios, when they drop their eggs, they normally eat them as a big source of their diet. Putting marbles down will stop these from being eaten tooo, thus drastically reducing the zebras energy levels)

Once the babies are born, you may transfer them into a breeding tank, this can be anything upwards of 1 gallon really! But 4 gallons or more is better until they are big enough to transfer to the main tank.

Another method not mentioned in the other post is a breeding trap, its pretty cruel though, but does work. Its a small plastic enclosure that floats/hangs on at the side of your tank. It has a piece of plastic "V" shaped with 1 big hole in the middle. As fry are born, they first fall, then instinctivly, they dart to the bottom. The hole is big enough for them to get through, not the parent, and it is all still seperate from the main tank, but uses the same water.

Thats really all you need. 2bh GL!

 

[theotheragentm]

They can definitely abort fry. They are born prematurely. You will see eggs, which you shouldn't in livebearers.

 

[fishkers]

okay, well i unfortunatly had to move her into a form of a breeding trap, it was the best thing I had, she didn't abort the babies, they are still in her, she just didn't give birth yet. Every other time I had babies I let them go in the main tank and netted them out but i'm in finals week and I don't have time so I was hoping this would be a solution for now.

Thanks for all the advice, it really helps.

 

[theotheragentm]

okay, well i unfortunatly had to move her into a form of a breeding trap, it was the best thing I had, she didn't abort the babies, they are still in her, she just didn't give birth yet. Every other time I had babies I let them go in the main tank and netted them out but i'm in finals week and I don't have time so I was hoping this would be a solution for now.

Thanks for all the advice, it really helps.

Fish won't automatically abort just because they are in a breeding trap. I just personally feel if you do have the time to check in daily, you have a pretty good chance of getting some of them out with decent coverage to begin with for the fry. It's a personal choice though. Good luck.

 

[fishkers]

Well i do have another question then, since I'm seeing eyes of the fry in my mother platy is it safe to say she is going to have them with in a week or so? I mean they are clearly distinct eyes, and several sets.

 

[mommyof2bettas]

yes, I think so, my guppy had sets of eyes I could see even moving in her gravid spot and the next day she had her fry! I don't think this is always the case, but it might mean it's close.

 

[Neo8223]

They can definitely abort fry. They are born prematurely. You will see eggs, which you shouldn't in livebearers.

Never said they couldnt. Dont think its happened to me yet tho. Touch wood.