HELP platy still pregnant after 2 months?

[fantasy fish]

One of my female sunburst platies has been pregnant for around 2 months, or am i just missing her fry. You can see the fry's eyes and the outline of their body, but she isn't VERY fat. Is she not dropping her fry or what?

 

[fish4life]

Pregnant livebearers have gestation periods of 20-40 days. Most drop by about the 28. I would most likely say that your missing them. Lift up the decorations in your tank. Those little squirts can fit anywhere. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[shadow]

I would also check around the gravel. They like to hide in there

 

[fantasy fish]

i have checked everything in my tank so they must be getting eaten before i can see them.

 

[Wisperian]

And if the momma is too scared she won't give birth but if she's REALLY scared she'll force the babies to come out undeveloped

 

[Julie]

I understood that livebearers can also hold the embryos in a "static state" if conditions aren't right. Is she being hassled? Is your water \temperature etc right?
Can anyone confirm if this is correct?

 

[!guppy!]

dont say that, my guppies have been pregnant 3 weeks and when i bort them 3 weeks ago the owner sed been pregnant 2 weeks :\ mine cud be preggaz foreva!!!

 

[fantasy fish]

Don't know about water conditions can't afford to buy any test strips, and not sure what temp it should be for a pregnant platy, it is at about 76 F right now. Should there be any aquarim salt in the water, i put in about 2 tablespoons in my 25 gal that she is in.

 

[wolfie33]

I cant help but feel that a little panic is setting in here!
I may be wrong but i dont think they can hold in the fry for over 2 weeks longer than there designed to.
Also i have never considered water conditions that important in breeding livebearers aslong as it's kept well filtered.
But to go out and buy the full ph,amonia etc.... testing kits for livebearers is ludicrous.
If you kept ghost knife fish or elephant nose or discus i'd be all for it.But most livebearers could live in tomato soup!(thats a joke).


So in essence they have the fry when ready and aslong as there's plenty of hiding places some will live and some won't.

 

[shadow]

I would take the water to your lfs and have them test it there. If you were to have only one test kit, I would purchase the ammonia kit. It never hurts to have it. I found one it Petco for about $7.99 and online you can find them fairly cheap.