How long till they're big enough?

[mandi]

I have 11 platy fry that were born Aug. 22nd. They're still pretty small, though they've definately grown a lot since they were born!

Right now all 11 are in a 5.5 gallon tank. Their parents are in a 6-gallon.

I'm currently setting up a 20 gallon tank and am hoping to start a fishless cycle on that this weekend.

I think what I'd like to do is move the parents and the babies into the 20 gallon, so that they have lots of room to swim and grow. (I'm afraid being crowded into that 5.5 gallon will stunt their growth or something.)

I'm wondering about how much longer it will be until they're big enough that the mom and dad won't eat them? I know, till they're big enough that they wont fit in their mouths haha -- but I wondered like 1 month, 2 months, etc. ? (Approximately)

I plan on adding lots of plants and everything so they'd have lots of places to hide and to feel secure -- but I've grown really attached to the lil' boogers and I don't want to risk loosing them now!

 

[Sasha]

My platy are a little over a month old and they're more than half an inch long. My 4 month old platy is already over an inch long.

 

[shadow]

It depends, when they have a lot of space they grow quicker. I currently have my 2mth old fry in a 10 gal with 2 adult fish. If the fry are bigger than the parent's mouths I would say they would be ok. Just provide them with a lot of hiding spaces.

 

[littleme1969]

Platy fry are very intelligent compared to say guppy fry. They will hide and keep out of the way of the parents untill they feel safe. Where as gupy fry will swim near the water surface looking fro food and up as lunch
I have Platy fry that are 3 weeks old and are living happily in the main tank. they are about 1 cm long. They mix well with the other fish, who seem to just ignore them ..lol They also seem happy to join in at feeding times and I have never seen any of my other fish have a go at them. My tank is well planted so there is always plenty of spaces they can hide in that the adults would have trouble to reach.
I would settle the parents in first for a week or 2..then maybe just add a few fry at a time, keep a close eye on them, then if everone is ok.. add the rest. That way if one of the other fish fancies a bit of platy for tea you won't loose the lot.

 

[puckbag]

it all depends... i would say usually after a month-month and a half they will be able to go in with bigger fish. but it all depends on how fast they grow as i have fish from the same batch that r almost a cm bigger then other ones.