How Long To Isolate Platy Mom From Babies?

[goldsangel]

I have read that you are supposed to separate platy mom from fry after their birth. She gave birth last month, but by the time I noticed, the Betta had pretty well taken care of them all. Needless to say, none made it. Mom looks about ready to explode again, and I have removed the Betta to its own 2.5 gal tank. Does the mother & father platy need to be taken out after the babies are born? My 10 gal tank has 1 male platy, 1 female platy, 2 male guppies, 2 female guppies, and an African dwarf frog.

Also, how old do babies have to be before I can put the Betta back in the tank?

 

[iairj84]

well your babies probably wont last too long even without the betta in there. The ADF's love fry (if they can catch them) and the parents will probably try and eat them too. Your best option if you want to save a few is a breeder net or another tank.

 

[theotheragentm]

The frog will definitely get its hand on a few fry. They are ravenous. Just hope you can get some and put them into a breeder net. If you are really set on saving all the fry, let the mother birth in her own tank with hiding spots for the fry.

 

[helterskelter]

Sadly all fish will eat newly born fry so unless to take the approach of a breeding tank or tank you be lucky to save any fry.

The frog is as just as much a problem as it will happily eat fry up to a good size.
I rear my fry with the parents but i keep Java moss in all my tanks and they do fine if the parents are well feed.

Give then plenty of hideing places, and remove the frog and you save 1 or 2 from each batch of fry.