My Female Platy

[Ny82]

After reading the sticky about pregnant livebearers i'm afraid i'm no further forward. Sorry
My platy isn't very fat, she's a bit heavier than she used to be, the male doesn't leave her side and she's developed a dark patch just behind her belly.
The pics aren't very clear as she swims very fast. She is always on the lookout for food too lol.
Could someone please confirm what this patch is or if she is sick. Thanks.
In this pic you can faintly see the patch. I can see it from here (sitting on the sofa) but I don't have a very powerful camera so it's not really picked up in pics.

This one is at the best angle and you can tell something is there.

Thanks in advance and sorry again it's the same old question
I know a lot has been said about if she is in with a male then she will be pregnant-what am I going to do? Just leave her to it?

 

[Cazgar]

If she's been with a male then the likelihood is she's pregnant.
From the pics, looks like she's very early into her pregnancy, so at least 2/3 weeks till she drops

 

[Ny82]

If she's been with a male then the likelihood is she's pregnant.
From the pics, looks like she's very early into her pregnancy, so at least 2/3 weeks till she drops

Thanks for the quick reply so what do I do? Or does she do it all? I bet everyone is like i'm the last person that should have a pregnant fish as I am so clueless. But I didn't plan this - the man at pets at home gave me a random 2 fish. It's just learning and finding out what to do from now.

 

[Cazgar]

Just leave her to it.
I saved the first couple of batches of fry, but unless you want to be over run with fish, let nature take it's course

 

[the_lock_man]

If she's been with a male then the likelihood is she's pregnant.
From the pics, looks like she's very early into her pregnancy, so at least 2/3 weeks till she drops

Thanks for the quick reply so what do I do? Or does she do it all? I bet everyone is like i'm the last person that should have a pregnant fish as I am so clueless. But I didn't plan this - the man at pets at home gave me a random 2 fish. It's just learning and finding out what to do from now.

They don't have fish-midwives in the wild, so you just leave her to it, as Cazgar says.

Whether any fry will survive is a big question, and one I can't easily answer, as I don't know what else is in your tank. If it's a community aquarium, with little plant cover, then the chances are very few, if any, will survive. I never so much as saw a platy fry, when I kept them. On the other hand, if you have loads of plants, and not many fish, then you'll get some survive.

Try and see if any local fish shops will take fry from you, even if they don't give you anything for them.

From what you've written, I infer that you have 2 platies, 1 male and 1 female. If you have room in the aquarium, I'd suggest you get another female. Male livebearers are very persistent little blighters, and can hassle the female to such an extent that it can cause illness, or even death. By spreading his, errrr, "attentions" between 2 or more females, it lessens the stress they suffer. Obviously, this does have the side-effect of it being more likely to have surviving fry, but this can be coped with. A female platy can't really cope with being dead.

 

[Ny82]

If she's been with a male then the likelihood is she's pregnant.
From the pics, looks like she's very early into her pregnancy, so at least 2/3 weeks till she drops

Thanks for the quick reply so what do I do? Or does she do it all? I bet everyone is like i'm the last person that should have a pregnant fish as I am so clueless. But I didn't plan this - the man at pets at home gave me a random 2 fish. It's just learning and finding out what to do from now.

They don't have fish-midwives in the wild, so you just leave her to it, as Cazgar says.

Whether any fry will survive is a big question, and one I can't easily answer, as I don't know what else is in your tank. If it's a community aquarium, with little plant cover, then the chances are very few, if any, will survive. I never so much as saw a platy fry, when I kept them. On the other hand, if you have loads of plants, and not many fish, then you'll get some survive.

Try and see if any local fish shops will take fry from you, even if they don't give you anything for them.

From what you've written, I infer that you have 2 platies, 1 male and 1 female. If you have room in the aquarium, I'd suggest you get another female. Male livebearers are very persistent little blighters, and can hassle the female to such an extent that it can cause illness, or even death. By spreading his, errrr, "attentions" between 2 or more females, it lessens the stress they suffer. Obviously, this does have the side-effect of it being more likely to have surviving fry, but this can be coped with. A female platy can't really cope with being dead.

I have 5 plants. I shall post a pic of my full tank When I went to get some more plants the man was the same one who sold me the platy and was asking how they ere doing etc and told me I could have another 2 fish which I didn't want but he kept reassuring me they would be fine so I asked him for a female platy. He told me this wouldn't be a good idea cus I would be over run with fish. So I now have a barb too. He is such a lovely bright shimmery colour and as soon as I put him in-the other 2 burst into life. They all swim around together. The tank doesn't look "crowded" or anything at all. They are very lively and take food like boiled spinach from my hand which is quite cute. They all go into the cave at night.

Here is a picture of my tank minus a few inches off the sides. The picture isn't very good and my glass is due a clean again but it shows the plants I have.