How Can I Be Sure?

[Fate2006]

Hey, I've got 3 platys right now in a small tan (5gallons) with 3 cory cats, heavily planted so the babbies can hide... but I'm not sure how to tell with my platys if either one of the 2 females are pregnant... one of them has a nice full belly... But I'm not sure if that's cuz I feed them 3 times a day or because she's just fat or mabye (hopefully) she's pregnant... anybody know for certain?? help would be very much appriciated

 

[donna123]

if she has a fan shape anal fin, got a nice big belly, and been near a male i would think shes pregnant,
can you see a black shape near her anal fin ( gravid spot ? ) they will always beg for food so very small amounts if you feed 3 times a day.

 

[fishboy619]

personaly i think 5 gallons is too small for 3 platies and 3 cory cats.either get a bigger tank or tank some fish back, either way, if your decide to keep the fry, your going to have to upgrade sooner or later as they just wont be enough room.it can take 4-6 week for the fry to be born, if your platy is increasing in tummy size and looks like its going to blow, its probally pregant.having 1 male and 2 females works well. lots of plants is needed as platies will usally eat their young as they are always hungry no matter how much you feed them,but like donna said,only feed small amounts 3 or 4 times a day,

 

[Fate2006]

3 corys only need 3 gallons and the platys were a spontanious buy as the tank and store I got them from was shutting down... I got them all (the platys) for 70cents canadian so I didn't care at the time... was going to feed them to my fish then decided to breed them instead... my 29gallons coming free soon so they'll be in that while the babies grow in the 5gallon... And ya I think theres a gravid spot... can't be sure though as they are red wag platys and their tails are black so it may just be a reflection... Hopfully they're pregnant oh and I found 1 baby guppy in the tank from when I had my males and females The male killed off my 3 females i had for him (like 2 weeks ago) so I fed him to my bichir...

 

[theotheragentm]

3 corys only need 3 gallons and the platys were a spontanious buy as the tank and store I got them from was shutting down... I got them all (the platys) for 70cents canadian so I didn't care at the time... was going to feed them to my fish then decided to breed them instead... my 29gallons coming free soon so they'll be in that while the babies grow in the 5gallon... And ya I think theres a gravid spot... can't be sure though as they are red wag platys and their tails are black so it may just be a reflection... Hopfully they're pregnant oh and I found 1 baby guppy in the tank from when I had my males and females The male killed off my 3 females i had for him (like 2 weeks ago) so I fed him to my bichir...

If she looks like she is about to explode from the belly, she is pregnant. She will be noticably larger.

3 Cories need more than 3 gallons. That's not enough room for them. Even though they stay near the bottom mostly, they should have more room. It's not just the space they take up, but also the bioload they produce. A good general rule is 1" per gallon, estimating full size of the fish. So Platies, one fish for two gallons. If you have upgrade plans, it's okay to have more fish before they're full grown, but make sure you upgrade.

 

[chibi]

Another thing about having corys in a birthing tank is they can eat the fry. I've seen it happen. They don't chase them, but if they stumble upon one the will eat it.

 

[Fate2006]

3 corys only need 3 gallons and the platys were a spontanious buy as the tank and store I got them from was shutting down... I got them all (the platys) for 70cents canadian so I didn't care at the time... was going to feed them to my fish then decided to breed them instead... my 29gallons coming free soon so they'll be in that while the babies grow in the 5gallon... And ya I think theres a gravid spot... can't be sure though as they are red wag platys and their tails are black so it may just be a reflection... Hopfully they're pregnant oh and I found 1 baby guppy in the tank from when I had my males and females The male killed off my 3 females i had for him (like 2 weeks ago) so I fed him to my bichir...

If she looks like she is about to explode from the belly, she is pregnant. She will be noticably larger.

3 Cories need more than 3 gallons. That's not enough room for them. Even though they stay near the bottom mostly, they should have more room. It's not just the space they take up, but also the bioload they produce. A good general rule is 1" per gallon, estimating full size of the fish. So Platies, one fish for two gallons. If you have upgrade plans, it's okay to have more fish before they're full grown, but make sure you upgrade.

Well thx for the info, the corries have been moved to my 29gallon tank with another small shoal (4 more) of them and yupperz my platys got a nice, round and full belly I'll be adding mabye 1 or 2 otto cats into the tank for clean up tonight after work

Also I have my 29gallon tank so I'll be using it for when the platys get larger (only half inch right now)