how can I tell my platy will give birth? please help

[tydgie]

I've had my 4 platys for about 5 months now, 2 females and 2 males I realised. one of my platys seems to be pregnant but has been "pregnant" for a while now, 2 months atleast (when I know should be a few weeks) . how will I know she is about to give birth specifically?
her black mark and her size is very large, and she seems very square shaped.she is eating well though, and sometimes is harassed by another fish and doesn't seem to stop moving, like she is restless. I don't want to miss the birth so I can save the babies being eaten. and I'm concerned my other female platy is pregnant too.

also, will the black mark disappear once she has had the babies

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Hello, and welcome to the forum!

May I please see pictures? The egg spot near the anal fin should be enlarged, and their bellies should be very swollen.

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[tydgie]

it is saying all my pictures the image file is too large, any other way I may send the pictures?
the belly is very swollen, and the egg spot (which is what I'm assuming the black spot is?) is also very large

 

[Naughts]

From what other people have said on similar threads, a square belly means "very soon".

 

[Colin_T]

If the pictures are too big for the website, set the camera's resolution to its lowest setting and take some more. The lower resolution will make the images smaller and they should fit on this website. Check the pictures on your pc and find a couple that are clear and show the problem, and post them here. Make sure you turn the camera's resolution back up after you have taken the pics otherwise all your pictures will be small.

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Livebearers like guppies, mollies, swordtails & platies are regularly infected with gill flukes and intestinal worms. If the fish are fat and still eating well, then worms is the most likely cause.

You can use Praziquantel to treat tapeworm and gill flukes. And Levamisole to treat thread/ round worms. If you can't find these medications, look for Flubendazole.

Remove carbon from filters before treatment and increase aeration/ surface turbulence to maximise oxygen levels in the water.

You treat the fish once a week for 4 weeks. The first treatment will kill any worms in the fish. The second, third and forth treatments kill any baby worms that hatch from eggs inside the fish's digestive tract.

You do a 75% water change and complete gravel clean 24-48 hours after treatment. Clean the filter 24 hours after treatment too.

Treat every fish tank in the house at the same time.

Do not use the 2 medications together. If you want to treat both medications in a short space of time, use Praziquantel on day one. Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate on day 2 & 3. Treat the tank with Levamisole on day 4 and do a 75% water change and gravel clean on day 5, 6 & 7 and then start with Praziquantel again on day 8.

The water changes will remove most of the medication so you don't overdose the fish. The gravel cleaning will suck out any worms and eggs that have been expelled by the fish. Repeating the treatment for 3-4 doses at weekly intervals will kill any worms that hatch from eggs. At the end of the treatment you will have healthier fish.