Platty Question

[fishnterrapins]

Hey, I've just noticed in the last couple of days the gravid spot on one of my pregnant platties. Now from reading on them is it true that if I move her too early she can self abort? If so at what point after they become noticeable gravid is it wise to move her? (+ if there is a rough answer how long is there left before she pops?)

 

[helterskelter]

They are generally pregnant for 28-32 days.

Not all fish show gravid spots so u cant go solely on that. but towards the end you may see small eyes looking out form the gravid spot.

Moving them can cause them to abort but if u feed them a lot when their due the hopefully they will not be hungry enough to eat the fry.
I only keep livebeares and never remove the fry, but other fish will happily eat all the fry given a chance, but once their 3-4 weeks old they may be of a size that they will not be eaten.

Helter

 

[fishnterrapins]

Cheers for that mate, I'm just a bit wary of leaving them in the main tank as some of my gouramis seem to be laying a table and sorting cutlery out for dinner

 

[theotheragentm]

Gouramis will definitely eat fry, but given enough cover, some will undoubtedly survive. It sounds cruel, but it's best that some of the fry get eaten. With the way livebearers breed, you'll be swamped in no time.

 

[Annaconda]

No Doubt !!

I started out with a 29 gallon tank, Saved the babys, And now Im on my 5th tank!!!
Im saving the babys now for the fish store, Or feed them to my african clawed frogs.

 

[fishnterrapins]

Well after reading a bit more, and a hell of a lot of grovelling with the missus, I've been able to sort out a breeding tank which I'm going to set up. I was originally going to just put the femal ein a net breeder but if i can get this tank set up etc in time i'm just gonna but them in there and put the female back once shes given birth.

 

[fishlette]

im no expert at this but i just wanted to add my experience. the first pregnant livebearer i bought was pregnant at the shop (unknown to me at the time) and came home from the shop pregnant. she was put in my tank with gouramis and then when i realised she was pregnant i moved her out to her own tank. after talking to people i decided at this stage i could move her into the tank i had just made into one specifically for my livebearers. so i decided this was the best place to put her. each time i moved her i fed her straight away. i dont know if it was coincidence or not but it seemed to take her mind of everything and she ate and consequently seemed to settle very quickly. her belly has continued to grow and im sure she will drop either tonight or within the next couple of days. she is extremely comfortable inher new tank. although i have little experience breeding myself, i work in a fish shop and have on occasion had to move pregnant females. i have found that as long as you dont move them within a week or so of them being due there seems to be no adverse effects.

once again this is only my own experience and dont for a second claim this to be a rule of thumb. it is more my own adventures that i have found to have no adverse effect on my girl.

i also bought home 4 pregnant girls (two mollies, a platy and a swordtail) from my shop and have found the same thing has worked. many people here have more experience than me so this can be disregarded if desired...tis just personal experience. i have 21 lovely fry swimming around at the moment from one of the girls i bought home. this was only 8 days ago.

i hope this is of some help however please take into consideration everyone elses word. many people here now more than myself. some things work for some and not others

 

[fishnterrapins]

I'll try and post a pic up in a bit if she'll stay still long enough. Just like to have some idea as to how far she is pregnant (and more importantly if she is indeed pregnant and I'm just not a fool). I have had live bearers breed before but it was more of a situation of I woke up one morning and had a nice surprise, I want to keep these fry and raise them.

 

[fishnterrapins]

Ok now have a photo but of one of my mollies I think is pregnant as I'm getting dizzy trying to photograph the platty but they're the same size and much bigger than any of the others they are with.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

I have the same type of Platy as you do. She looks exactly like one of mine right now. I'm not really sure if she's just fat or pregnant as she's still not really big yet. I would say you should wait to see what happens. IF she's pregnant I would say it's still in the really early stages.

 

[modaz]

]
i popped out tonight to watch a thunder storm and after about an hour i came back and noticed that one of my fish was hovering in one corner at the bottom as i took a closer look i noticed that it had a wound to its head and at that split moment i was a tiny fry swim really close to him and he ate him up(bugger it) it was a cream coloured fry. anyway i guessed that he damaged his head getting into that gap trying to get to that poor little fry. i put some food in to temp him out and it finally worked..........then i thought i saw something but wasnt sure so i got a magnifying glass and took a deep look at where i saw the fry and to my surprise it was a bright orange little fellow staring out the weeds (another fry) then another one, a yellow one...............then a red one

i continued to watch and noticed the way my other fish was getting into them so i got some spare artifical grass things and added even more to that corner of the tank and now he cant get anywhere near them.

after elimination i realized that they were micky mouse platy fry.

one of my female platties has been slightly bigger than yours for at least two weeks and she had the same uneven swelling as yours, these are the first time that ive had platties so i was unaware that she was pregnant, just fat as all she does is eat at great speed compared to the rest

also got a silver molly thats two weeks pregnant, i know this cause i spent all evening watching them at it and shes swelling very quickl, i took a good look at her i can see the frys eyes forming inside.

will get a pic uploaded for you to see my FAT platy

 

[mnbyiuopre]

My Platys won't breed! I've been watching them but no fry. Maybe they gave birth and were eaten but none of them have ever gotten very big.