Platy About To Drop Fry?

[luckyd]

I have owned a female platy for about a month. She looks pregnant and is starting to get that "squared off" look. I have also noticed a white spot near her anal fin for several days now and read on this site that could be a sign of the birth canal opening. The other night she was hiding at the top back of the tank and I thought she might be about due. With danios constantly patrolling the top of the tank and the male platys following her every move, I'm afraid the little fry won't have a chance. But I don't want to keep her in a breeding trap for too long. Once the white spot displays, how long is it usually before delivery?

 

[nosoup4you]

Can you possibly get pics? It is the only real way for us to give you any relatively accurate guess.

 

[omega59]

In my experiance when you see that tube it is about 48hrs. Pics plz

 

[ewooten78]

When my platys gave birth as soon as I noticed the birth canal I put her in the trap 12 hours later she dropped. Most females when they are ready to give birth go down to the bottom of the tank and hide usually in one of the back corners. Thats a dead giveaway. If you are worried I usually put my soon to be mommas in a 2 gallon tank I have that way there is no stress involved. I have a breeding trap I also use and never had any stress issues but havent left them in the trap longer than 48 hours. Would love to see some pictures! Good Luck!

 

[omega59]

Don't use traps get a tank divider or more coverage

 

[luckyd]

Thanks everyone. I tried to add pictures but my camera died just as I was trying to download them. Perhaps tomorrow I can try again. We did add more dense plant coverage recently in preparation for the babies. In your experience, how many can we expect to survive if we don't use a trap? I keep reading that they instinctually rise to the top of the tank to look for food when they're born, which seems like it would make them very vulnerable and also in danger of being sucked through the comb filter.

 

[OldMan47]

A single platy in a separate birthing tank would probably give you around 30 fry. In a crowded aquarium, you won't get very many at all. A lot depends on the number and type of fish in the tank.

 

[luckyd]

A single platy in a separate birthing tank would probably give you around 30 fry. In a crowded aquarium, you won't get very many at all. A lot depends on the number and type of fish in the tank.

Well, she still hasn't delivered and my camera is still broken. I have a 34-gallon tank with 5 danios, 3 platys, 2 cory catfish, and one golden algae eater. I also have a 5-gallon tank with a young platy, 5 neon tetras, 1 cory catfish, and 1 algae eater. I've considered switching the tetras to the big tank, and putting the Mom in the smaller tank until she delivers. But would the fry still be in danger from the catfish and algae eater? We tried to set up a new 5-gallon tank but it was broken when we opened the box. Also, I'm trying to figure out what to do with all the fry if they survive. Any ideas?

 

[nosoup4you]

Depends on the type of algae eater really. If it is a pleco, I would not worry about it too much.

 

[luckyd]

No, we had a pleco but it didn't make it. This one is a golden algae eater, a type of chinese algae eater I believe.

 

[nosoup4you]

Get that evil menace out of your tank! lol Once they get larger, they will attack and sometimes kill adult fish. They like to feed on the slime coat of other fish and have been known to take out eyes.

 

[luckyd]

Get that evil menace out of your tank! lol Once they get larger, they will attack and sometimes kill adult fish. They like to feed on the slime coat of other fish and have been known to take out eyes.

Sigh, I have read that. So far, he's pretty cute. When do they turn into little monsters?

 

[nosoup4you]

That is the thing, you never really know. You could come home one day and find that he has "turned". And yes, they are cute little monsters.

 

[OldMan47]

In your 34 gallon< I would expect maybe 5 to 10 survivors if tyou have good plant cover for the fry. The danios are probably the biggest predators in the tank but the extra platies are a close second.

 

[luckyd]

Thanks, the 5 to 10 is better than I was expecting. But we moved her to the 5 gallon Tetra tank today because the male plattys were harassing her so much. We also got a new 15 gallon tank so we could shuffle fish around a bit if need be. We're quickly becoming fanatics I guess! I thought sure she would deliver soon but so far nothing.