How to tell if my platies are pregnant?

[NikkiY]

Hi there,

Just got my first platy. Actually, I got 4 (2 boys and 2 girls). What are the signs to look for when the girls are pregnant? When I spot one, should I use those breeding trap or should I use one of the net breeder?

Thx!

 

[yvez9]

they most likely are pregnant

if you want to raise the fry, it is a good idea to have a breeding net and a fry tank (at least 10-15 gallons)

do you have a plan for the fry?

 

[Sasha]

You can tell if a female platy is pregnant if you can see a gravid spot and they sometimes look very fat! When she's about to give birth, you usually see the fry's eyes pressing against the mother's belly but it's easier to see them in the lighter colors of platies.

You can either put the fry in a breeding net or set up a small tank for them. The larger the space, the faster they will grow. I recommend feeding the fry a special powder called "First Bites" but crushed flakes is fine too. Feed them 3-4 times a day.

Good luck!

to the forum too!

 

[NikkiY]

Thank you very much for the answers . I checked my platies, none of them are pregnant yet because I don't see any gravid spot on them. I certainly want to see that happens soon.

Nikki

 

[mandi]

Be patient. Trust me you will KNOW when your platys are pregnant & about to drop. They will look like little balloons about to pop.

When I got my first platys, I couldn't wait for them to have fry -- but then they started having fry on a (roughly) monthly basis. I was totally overrun LOL, so I've started giving all my livebearers away.

Anyway, if you go with a breeding trap -- definately buy the mesh-net type and not the solid plastic ones (babies can get caught in those).

Also, as Sasha mentioned, Hikari 'First Bites' are excellent. Or you could get Liquifry No.2 (though I've found it kind of messes up the water). I've also had platy fry do just fine on the regular flake food I feed the big ones as long as I crumble it up a little extra in my fingers before I put it in the tank.

How big is your tank? You might think about getting another female or two if you have room, or getting rid of one male ... the "best" ratio for livebearers is 1 male for every 2 females, otherwise the females can become exhausted from the males chasing them around & trying to breed constantly.

Anyway, congrats! Platys are so much fun. Let us know how it goes!

 

[mrplaty]

There is a pinned post at the top of the livebearer forum giving you information on pregnant livebearers!!

 

[paulthegreat]

I have a plastic two piece trap and it has worked fine, but I did buy a 54liter grow-out tank since my 112liter does not really have room for a breeding net. My two Swordtail females seem to be in half phase with each other so the fry do not get big enough to release before the next one is ready to drop. Good Luck the fry are a lot of fun to watch.

 

[vidiots]

On some of the different body colors the gravid spot doesn't show up well, but you will notice a fat belly when the bottom between the anus and the gills becomes shaped like the letter U instead of the Letter V. If you watch them frequently you'll be able to tell that they are mating because the male will chase the female around attempting to swim very close beside the female and turning his sex organ sideways to touch her with it. The pregnancy takes about a month, and the female can have fry every month after that like clockwork without mating again.