My Platy

[anah2467]

Hello there! I'm new to fishkeeping and need some confirmation about my platy that I just got today for my 10 gallon tank (established and cycled). She really have a huge belly and I'm anxious if she is preggy. I've attached a picture here and I'd appreciate some input and advise. I did buy a breeder trap just in-case. My daughter whom this fish hobby started is so excited about it.

 

[boost-67]

Hello anah2467,
Welcome to the forum! i like u are new to this as well, in my honest opinion she looks more overfed than ready to pop. See how her "bludge" is more located to the front of her body. You should check this out when u have a chance http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/253113-how-to-know-if-your-livebearers-ready-to-drop-fry-updated-150410/ it will teach u a lot, i sure was a big help for me and also u might wanna read up on the breeder traps as they tend to do more harm than good. they stress the fish out a lot. u seem to have a lot of hiding places in your tank ( ie. plants / decor ) so what u might want to do is just let her drop in the tank and scoop up the babies as u see them and put them in the breeder tank so the bigger fish cant get to them.

 

[anah2467]

Hello anah2467,
Welcome to the forum! i like u are new to this as well, in my honest opinion she looks more overfed than ready to pop. See how her "bludge" is more located to the front of her body. You should check this out when u have a chance http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/253113-how-to-know-if-your-livebearers-ready-to-drop-fry-updated-150410/ it will teach u a lot, i sure was a big help for me and also u might wanna read up on the breeder traps as they tend to do more harm than good. they stress the fish out a lot. u seem to have a lot of hiding places in your tank ( ie. plants / decor ) so what u might want to do is just let her drop in the tank and scoop up the babies as u see them and put them in the breeder tank so the bigger fish cant get to them.

Thank you Boost-67 for the quick reply. I've read the link you gave me, great help. I will sure observe my platy. If she's overfed should her belly subside eventually. I've attached another pic at different angle.

 

[boost-67]

if its over feeding it will go away when she poops and if u could, try to get a pic of her side.... because in the first pic she just looks "plump" but the 2nd looks closer to a very pregnant belly, so a side pic would make it easier to diagnose. a good trick to getting a good pic is to feed first ( i know kinda counter productive ) then wait a few minutes as they will looking for more food and tend to not zoom around the tank as much. one thing i personally do is get very close to the tank and let them get used to me being there with a big unknown thing in my hands ( camera ) i don't know if that works for everybody else but my fish tend to less camera shy after then seen the cam for a few minutes.

 

[PaBucsFan]

Boost-I am with you in saying the picture is difficult to judge by so ANAH try to give us a better photo! I am leaning on the side of pregnancy as she has coloring near the anal fin similar to her overall body color which could indicate that fry are growing inside her. Definitely observe her and get us a better picture.

I would also suggest to not put her in the breeders trap. It can cause unneeded stress to mama and her babies. Let her give birth in the tank then either attempt to catch the fry and raise them in the breeders trap and feed them often (3-4 times) a day. Their food should be finely ground up or powdered flake food. The more you feed them and the more often you change the water the faster they will grow. If you choose to leave them in the open tank with mama then use a clean sock, stocking, or old fish netting to cover the slits on your filters intake so that the fry are not killed in there by getting sucked up. In fact as a precaution cover the slits sooner rather than later as I have noticed my livebearers give birth at night.

 

[anah2467]

if its over feeding it will go away when she poops and if u could, try to get a pic of her side.... because in the first pic she just looks "plump" but the 2nd looks closer to a very pregnant belly, so a side pic would make it easier to diagnose. a good trick to getting a good pic is to feed first ( i know kinda counter productive ) then wait a few minutes as they will looking for more food and tend to not zoom around the tank as much. one thing i personally do is get very close to the tank and let them get used to me being there with a big unknown thing in my hands ( camera ) i don't know if that works for everybody else but my fish tend to less camera shy after then seen the cam for a few minutes.

Well, for the moment this is the only pic I took earlier. I've got 2 so I will send that after. Thank you really for the time you've shared...only time will tell too if my platy is really preggy or just overfed. But basing from the link you've shared she might be 95%. Just look at the reflection from the pic, I hope it is clear enough, had to resize it.

if its over feeding it will go away when she poops and if u could, try to get a pic of her side.... because in the first pic she just looks "plump" but the 2nd looks closer to a very pregnant belly, so a side pic would make it easier to diagnose. a good trick to getting a good pic is to feed first ( i know kinda counter productive ) then wait a few minutes as they will looking for more food and tend to not zoom around the tank as much. one thing i personally do is get very close to the tank and let them get used to me being there with a big unknown thing in my hands ( camera ) i don't know if that works for everybody else but my fish tend to less camera shy after then seen the cam for a few minutes.

Well, for the moment this is the only pic I took earlier. I've got 2 so I will send that after. Thank you really for the time you've shared...only time will tell too if my platy is really preggy or just overfed. But basing from the link you've shared she might be 95%. Just look at the reflection from the pic, I hope it is clear enough, had to resize it.

the other pic

 

[anah2467]

Boost-I am with you in saying the picture is difficult to judge by so ANAH try to give us a better photo! I am leaning on the side of pregnancy as she has coloring near the anal fin similar to her overall body color which could indicate that fry are growing inside her. Definitely observe her and get us a better picture.

I would also suggest to not put her in the breeders trap. It can cause unneeded stress to mama and her babies. Let her give birth in the tank then either attempt to catch the fry and raise them in the breeders trap and feed them often (3-4 times) a day. Their food should be finely ground up or powdered flake food. The more you feed them and the more often you change the water the faster they will grow. If you choose to leave them in the open tank with mama then use a clean sock, stocking, or old fish netting to cover the slits on your filters intake so that the fry are not killed in there by getting sucked up. In fact as a precaution cover the slits sooner rather than later as I have noticed my livebearers give birth at night.

Thank you for the tips. Got so much to learn. I didn't plan on breeding fish but I guess I will have my hands full when and if she drops frys. All I know is my daughter can't wait in the morning too see if her belly is still full or frys will be present. By the look of her belly it's too big. Anyways, I will let you guys know...frys or no frys. Gonna be patient just like cycling don't add the fish yet,,,waiting game!

 

[biokid101]

she is rlly biggg! overfed or no overfed but i think she is close maybe about 1 week??

 

[anah2467]

she is rlly biggg! overfed or no overfed but i think she is close maybe about 1 week??

Hmmm, 1 week I will take note of that. Woke this morning belly still bloated the same. So, must not be overfed, eh. Now does the feeding habit changes too when she's about to drop? Anti-social means all alone by themselves and space protective, avoiding others, no eating either?

 

[boost-67]

WOW! yeah shes pretty far along and all those "symptoms" are what she'll do as she nears baby time lol. biokid101 was prob pretty close in his assumption of 1 week. good luck and keep us posted

 

[fluffycabbage]

Are you planning on keeping all the fry? If so, what will their future be - a fish shop?

 

[anah2467]

Ok guys will update you on my platys progress. So far, it's one week she may drop...anymore predictions, here's the closest pic I got of her today. Btw, I will try to feed & grow the fry, I've got no experience so I don't know how well I'll do especially since I wasn't expecting this.

 

[anah2467]

Do pregnant fishes drop their frys mostly at night? Defensive purposes for the frys I'm really guessing here. But won't fishes see at night anyways. I always turn off the light at night.

 

[boost-67]

yes they do tend to drop at night and she is very nicly squared off shouldnt be long now

 

[bouv2]

Would you say this one was pregnant too?