Do Platies Eat Their Young And What's The Best Set Up For Breeding

[Nickelback]

Hi I was wondering I have six platies which I would like to put in my two foot tank to hopefully breed but I know not a great deal about breeding platies.What temperature and Ph do platies prefer and would a two foot tank be big enough to add another four more to make ten all up.Also do platies eat their young.What is platies prefered food other than the obvious flakes and does anyone know how to tell the sex of platies.

 

[Annastasia]

They aren't picky about their temperature, as long as it's not ridiculously high or low. They also aren't too picky with pH, but harder, alkaline water seems to be best for them.

A 2 foot tank may be okay. What is the gallonage on it?

As for numbers, you need 2-3 females per male. This is because the males are mating machines, and will continuely try to mate with the females. With just one female, all of the male's attention is on her, and she will become stressed out. With more females, his attention is spread out and each one gets some rest time. If you want 10, you'd have to have 7 females and 3 males, or POSSIBLY 6 females and 4 males. I would recommend the first though.

Yes, they eat their young. If you add in some hiding plants and plants (especially floating) then you should get some fry that survive. Or you could raise the fry seperate from the parents in a breeder net or fry tank.

They'll eat pretty much anything. Flakes are a good staple, and you can alternate in some high protein foods (frozen, live, freeze-dried) and some veggies too.

Platies can be sexed by the anal fin, which is the fin near where the tail and body connect. A female will have a fan-shaped anal fin, and a male will have a pointy one.

Also, before you breed, plan for fry. With the number of fish you want, you'll have a ton of fry, and you can quickly become overrun. Find somewhere to give/sell them too, should you have too many.


Also, take a look through the FAQs and Pinned Articles. All your questions were answered in there. Also, you can search for topics on the same thing too. I know there's been lots, so you should be able to find some good advice in those. Good luck!

 

[Nickelback]

They aren't picky about their temperature, as long as it's not ridiculously high or low. They also aren't too picky with pH, but harder, alkaline water seems to be best for them.

A 2 foot tank may be okay. What is the gallonage on it?

As for numbers, you need 2-3 females per male. This is because the males are mating machines, and will continuely try to mate with the females. With just one female, all of the male's attention is on her, and she will become stressed out. With more females, his attention is spread out and each one gets some rest time. If you want 10, you'd have to have 7 females and 3 males, or POSSIBLY 6 females and 4 males. I would recommend the first though.

Yes, they eat their young. If you add in some hiding plants and plants (especially floating) then you should get some fry that survive. Or you could raise the fry seperate from the parents in a breeder net or fry tank.

They'll eat pretty much anything. Flakes are a good staple, and you can alternate in some high protein foods (frozen, live, freeze-dried) and some veggies too.

Platies can be sexed by the anal fin, which is the fin near where the tail and body connect. A female will have a fan-shaped anal fin, and a male will have a pointy one.

Also, before you breed, plan for fry. With the number of fish you want, you'll have a ton of fry, and you can quickly become overrun. Find somewhere to give/sell them too, should you have too many.


Also, take a look through the FAQs and Pinned Articles. All your questions were answered in there. Also, you can search for topics on the same thing too. I know there's been lots, so you should be able to find some good advice in those. Good luck!

That is the GREATEST information you have offered me I'm soooooo appreciative of your reply Well as for the gallonage on the tank I'm not sure how to work that out.Well I thank you once again and enjoy uor day

 

[Annastasia]

Awww, I'm glad!

Just click right here to figure out your tank volume!

 

[Nickelback]

Awww, I'm glad!

Just click right here to figure out your tank volume!

You are so helpful this link is going to really help me too for future questions wll it works out at 12.47 us gallons or 10.38 uk gallons or 47.19 litres.Thanks sooo much for your help

 

[Annastasia]

Okay, you don't want anymore Platies then! How many males and females do you have currently?

 

[Nickelback]

Okay, you don't want anymore Platies then! How many males and females do you have currently?

The fish are sleeping with the light off at present and I can't check now cause they hide at this time.I have no idea what sex they are but i will get back to you later with the sex.I think it will be hard to trying to see in the tank what sex they are while they swim around so fast like they do well is six the limit for the tank you reckon.well thanks for being so helpful i hope you enjoy your day

 

[Nickelback]

Okay, you don't want anymore Platies then! How many males and females do you have currently?

The fish are sleeping with the light off at present and I can't check now cause they hide at this time.I have no idea what sex they are but i will get back to you later with the sex.I think it will be hard to trying to see in the tank what sex they are while they swim around so fast like they do well is six the limit for the tank you reckon.well thanks for being so helpful i hope you enjoy your day

Hi again I have checked the platies but from the information you have given my Im still a little confused as I can't seem to tell the sex and I'm still a little confused where abouts the fin is?

 

[lilfishie]

this link should help you decide on the sex of your fish Here

 

[Nickelback]

this link should help you decide on the sex of your fish Here

Woooow Excellent information.Thanks soooo much Well I have discovered that I have 4 males and 1 female as I did have 6 but I unfortunately lost 1 last night Well what am I going to do now. Well I have recalculated the gallons in my tank as I done it all wrong the other day I did'n't measure it right as I was only measuring the water in there not the actual tank Well here are the calculations.us=15.1 gallons uk=12.57 gallon.litres=57.2.This is the measurement of just the glass tank.so im wondering is it only six in the tank for this size?Im really worried about the female now that I found out she has 4 males to deal with.I want to buy more females but if 6 is all to be allowed in this tank Im wondering will the males be ok together in another tank with no females at all.(I don't want to part with any and give them to the pet shop as I love my platies)Well thanks again and thanks for reading. Thanks again lilfishie and annastasia.You have provided me with some EXCELLENT information

 

[Annastasia]

I'd say take a few males back, and get more females. You could probably squeeze more then 6 in there, but be aware...you cannot keep any of your fry. And most people want to. Either way, you need to relieve the female, or take her out, soon.

 

[Nickelback]

I'd say take a few males back, and get more females. You could probably squeeze more then 6 in there, but be aware...you cannot keep any of your fry. And most people want to. Either way, you need to relieve the female, or take her out, soon.

thanks for that annastasia i will keep just six in the new tank and her relief will come in 3 days time when her tanks ready.i think she is pregnant but thats probably stating the obvious after what she has been living with.all them males pestering her how awful for her and to think i have had here in there with them for about six weeks no wonder she is always hiding. she must be tough well the fry if she has any will go to the pet shop.but i want to keep the males in a seperate tank with the rest of my tropicals but im just wondering if the temperature is too high.28-29 degrees celcius ?i have to keep it that high for my clown loaches as to stop white spot which they got and i treated.well thanks annastasia