How Long Does It Take To Drop?

[targa66]

I've had a very pregnant platy (was told she was a swordtail but am convinced she's a platy) in an isolation tank for about a week and she's finally started dropping fry tonight. How long does it take??? I'd like to get her out of there before she starts chasing and eating the fry but don't want to put her back in my main tank if she's still dropping. Will she look very different once she's done giving birth?
I am pretty sure these are her first babies. any idea how many she'll have?

will post photos if the poor little ones make it - I've got a good number of plants in there to hide in but this mama fish loves her food so I am worried for them...

thanks!!
Shelly

 

[Alistriwen]

Depends on the fish and the situation. When she looks nice and thinned out, and the gravid spot has receded a bit she's done. It should be pretty clear.

 

[targa66]

Depends on the fish and the situation. When she looks nice and thinned out, and the gravid spot has receded a bit she's done. It should be pretty clear.

thanks - were you ever right on this one! she looked like a different fish this morning - gravid spot gone and she is slim and trim again. Little ones seem to be thriving!
-shelly

 

[Alistriwen]

Feed them live or frozen baby brine shrimp 4x a day in small portions to see quick growth and rapid colouration. Keep up with water changes in the tank the fry are in because they need better water quality to grow. After a week or so you can start feeding some finely ground version of whatever the adults eat once or twice a day and after a few weeks they should be ready to eat entirely ground food with only the occaisional bbs.