New Platys Mum

[1975durban]

Hi, Last week I was given 3 pregnant platies ( 2 of which are on the photo) they are in a 60 litre tank by themselves, do they look ready to give birth anytime soon?? Being a new mum I really don't know what to look out for. Thanks!

 

[Ny82]

Wow they are very close. As you can see along the bottom of the belly-it's square. Once it's square it's not long! They look like they will drop anytime now.

 

[Akasha72]

if you look at the beginning of the livebearers section there's a pinned topic regarding 'how to know when they are going to drop'

The basic rule of thumb is - their bellies square off and the their anal area starts to open and will look either like a swollen blob or a tube sticking out. This is the birthing tube opening. Once this is obvious you can expect fry in minutes/hours, not days

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum 1975durban.
Those fish will be dropping fry within the next day or two.

 

[1975durban]

Many thanks for all your replies, I am off work now until Wednesday so will keep a close eye on them, I have read they normally give birth at night is this right?? As there are 3 pregnant platies am I best to keep the fry in a net incase the other two platies eat them?? Until they have all given birth and them put the three mums in my 350 litre big tank and leave all the fry in the 60 litre tank?? Thanks!

 

[ninjacheesefish]

Livebears do give birth at night or in the early hours of the morning. If you want to keep the fry it would be best to seperate them from the other fish in the tank. Otherwise you could leave all the fish in there and let nature take its course with "the survival of the fittest".
Platies will eat their young, so if you want to seperate them, you could place them in a net, breeding box or net.
It should be okay to put the platies in your mum's tank just make sure there aren't any fish in the bigger tank that will eat them. If you leave the fry in the 60 litre tank then make sure that the water remains at normal temperatures and the food that you give them is basicallly powder as they only have small mouths. Fry should be fed between, 2 - 5 times a day. Good food is powedered fish flakes or live daphina or baby brine shrimps.
Hope this helped

 

[Akasha72]

just to add to ninjacheesefish's post

Fry also need clean water. If you want to raise healthy fry then I would reccommend TetraMin baby as a food (it doesn't foul the water like a lot of other fry foods) and 50% water changes every couple of days - fresh water seems to help their growth rate. No idea how though

 

[FishFanatic04]

Ohhh, goodluck with the new babies you are about to have! Platy fry are soooo cute to watch growing up. Good points were made above. Clean water and lots of feedings

 

[1975durban]

One of the platies has definately got the birthing tube visable, should i put her in the fry net before i go to bed if she hasn't had them before that??

 

[LucyB]

I would say it is only a matter of hours... They are absolutely HUGE!

 

[1975durban]

They are huge on the photo and that was 8 days ago!!

 

[Akasha72]

if the birthing tube is opening it shouldn't be too long. If you can catch her without stressing her and the breeding box doesn't stress her either then you could put her in there for the night and release her in the morning.

The only trouble with the breeding nets/boxes is mummy fish can get stressed out and that can mean she aborts the fry. You could try putting some plant leaves in with her - I have found this helpful in the past

 

[1975durban]

I put her in the net last night with no problems and have just had a look and she has died in the night

 

[Akasha72]

what!!! That's terrible news. I clicked on your link expecting to see pictures of fry So sorry for your loss

 

[FishFanatic04]

oh yikes. I'm so sorry.