Lazzy male platie

[tropicalsteve1]

Hi all i got a pair of platies ages ago now and what them to breed but the male dosnt seem interested at all he totaly disregards the femail and wont go anywere near her. Has anyone got any ideas how i can get them together.
Fishy regards, Steve. .

 

[3fsh]

Well, first of all, I would go and buy at least 2 more female platys. As for the mating issue... try turning up the temp to about 80 or so. I've found that it tends to... er... get them in the mood.

 

[emma12321]

Hi tropical steve,

I would think it a good thing if mine wouldn't mate, i have 4 females and a male in a 400 litre tank and they constantly have babies which stresses me out as the loaches and tetras eat them. whenever i see babies i spend ages trying to scoop them out with a net but most get eaten.

I have tried to catch the male but he is a fast little bugger and the tanks is heavily planted. Any male babies i get go into my male only tank as i hope to avoid more babies. This has worked so far but i may have to start trading males at the lfs. Lucky you, if you really want babies i would get more females.

p.s i have noticed that my red male prefers the red females, he will sometimes go with the sunset female but the calico (who is really pale) hardly gets a look in.

Hope this helps

Emma

 

[Little_Orca]

Maybe you could get him some viagra.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Hi all i got a pair of platies ages ago now and what them to breed but the male dosnt seem interested at all he totaly disregards the femail and wont go anywere near her. Has anyone got any ideas how i can get them together.
Fishy regards, Steve. .

If he's not mating the female is most likely already pregnant, either that or you have a sick fish or water quality has some major issues.
You need to get at least 2 more females, also do you know how to tell if a platy is pregnant or what to raise the fry on or have a cycled fry tank for them or are aware how many fry platys can produce on a monthly basis?

 

[tropicalsteve1]

I just read your post if what you say is true about the difrent colours prefer there own type of colour that might be one of the reasons i cant get them to mate. The femail is a plain orange one and the mail is a yellowish orange colour with a red tail. Do you think this could be one of the reasons?? I am going to get another femail and see what happens. I also tryed turning up the temp a bit as suggested erlyer but no joy. I wonderd if i was to seperate them for a wile and then put them back together if that might get them going
Fishy regards, Steve.

 

[Annastasia]

Those colors are pretty close together. That shouldn't be the problem. It's usually worse if like one is a blue calico, and the other is a red wagtail or something very different.

You could try seperating them...but it shouldn't make much a difference, if something else is wrong. Another female is good, but what are your water params?

And also, are you prepared to have a lot of fry, and do you have homes ready for them all?

 

[tropicalsteve1]

Ive checked all the params and everything seems fine. All the other fish are mating and breeding ok exept this platie he seems fine and are all swimming around as happy as can be. Its just he has got me puzzled?? Yes i have homes for them all i have another tank for some of them and my brother is having some. As for any others i dont need i know a few people who will be glad to take them.
Fishy regards, Steve.

 

[Annastasia]

Can you post the Params, though, please?

Okay, as long as you have homes for them. You realize you can have over a hundred babies in 2 months? And that they'll keep having that amount of fry?

I'd get another female, though. Sometimes males will see another female they like, and they start breeding with them both. Also, are you sure your current female isn't pregnant? On oranges, it can be hard, sometimes impossible to see the gravid spot. So she may be pregnant, so the male CAN'T breed with her....

 

[tropicalsteve1]

I take it by params you mean Ph test etc etc?? When you said that that what i thought you ment.
Fishy regards, Steve.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I take it by params you mean Ph test etc etc?? When you said that that what i thought you ment.
Fishy regards, Steve.

You should test your water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates at least once every 2 weeks, ph isn't very important to know for livebearers and you should only test for it once a month or so as it rarely ever changes but if it does you should look into whats causing it to fluctuate.
You cannot safely say your water quality is good until you have tested for ammonia, nitrate and nitrites and although you can get your lfs(local fish store) to test for these stats/params they are rarely ever honest about if they find a problem in your water quality so it is best to buy your own test kits.

 

[tropicalsteve1]

Thats the one i coudnt think of the amonia and nitrates one. Yes i tested it yesterday and against the colour chart its a very pale pink colour and the chart says its within the right perams. the ph one is ok and i havent had any trouble there either. I shall do a little water change in the week as well so that will also help keep things down. I have got 3 platie fry as when i got the female she was already pregnant and they are growing nicley so thay have since been relised back in to the main tank and are doing fine so at least i got more than i bargaind for when i brought her.
Fishy regards, Steve.

 

[Annastasia]

What about nitrite? That's the one that can be very bad.

Also, if she was pregnant when you got her, she probably stored sperm and is now pregnant again without having to mate with your male. So now he can't mate with her, because she's already pregnant.

 

[tropicalsteve1]

Oh i do hope so i supose i will just have to wait and see. As for the nitrate I checked it last week and it seemed fine then i will have to find out the test and do it again. Its all go here at the minute and everythings upside down as i have been decorating as my wife is expecting our second child over the next few weeks. It sure seems like ive got babys on the brain
Fishy regards, Steve.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

You should invest in a kit that tells you the exact stats in numbers as the color ones aern't very acurate, ammonia and nitrites should be 0 in a mature tank with no exceptions and nitrates should be under 40, but think the case with your male and female is that your female platy is already pregnant but investing in a good test kit will be good none the less