Platy Fry Questions

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

Sorry I'm making so many posts about my pregnant fish; it's just so exciting! Anyways, I just have a few questions:

- Are they fine with a strong current? The filter is undergravel, they won't get sucked in, but the output is built into the hood.

- How big will they be when they're first born? I've bred them before, but they were hiding in the plants so I didn't see them for a while.

- Can I feed them crushed flakes, or do they need extra nutrition as babies?

- Should I give them some surface access?

- How many fry do they have?

And that's about it. They haven't bred for at least 2 years, so I'm practically new to this.

 

[OldMan47]

A platy fry is very small, maybe 0.5cm total length. Crushed flake of the same food you feed the adults will be fine but be careful because the adults will consider the fry as simply food. What that means to most of us is that we must provide some kind of protection to those fry. I use plenty of java moss to serve that purpose while other people use breeder traps or nets to achieve the same results. There is no way that a drop of platy fry will survive without some kind of support from you.

 

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

A platy fry is very small, maybe 0.5cm total length. Crushed flake of the same food you feed the adults will be fine but be careful because the adults will consider the fry as simply food. What that means to most of us is that we must provide some kind of protection to those fry. I use plenty of java moss to serve that purpose while other people use breeder traps or nets to achieve the same results. There is no way that a drop of platy fry will survive without some kind of support from you.

Thanks for the quick reply oldman. I'm getting a fry net on Saturday, but I needed to make sure that the holes in the netting would be small enough. From what you've said, I'm pretty much prepared

 

[OldMan47]

Well done ZSP. A nice breeder net can save many platy fry.

 

[RamboFish]

Last monday my first ever platy fry were born! (Almost 2 weeks old now!) Only had the platys a week and didn't realise one was pregnant to be honest. I woke up one morning to find one little fry! After searching through all my plants and bushes and java moss I eventually found 9, then almost a week later found a 10th surviver!! I have mine in a floating breeding box, you can just about see it in my sig. Only down side is keeping it clean is tricky at times . Other than that though I prefer it to a net as you can see the fry better. I feed mine on the Tetra tetramin baby, they seen to like it. I give them less than a pinch (as there's only the 10 of them) about 2-3 times a day depending on their appetite.
Hope that helps!
You'll have to upload some photos when you have yours.

 

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

Sadly, the female is looking a lot thinner. I haven't seen any survivors

Is it possible that I just can't see them? The gravel is white, and there are only three plants that aren't very good hiding spots.

 

[RamboFish]

It depends what colour you think they would be? Line were quite obvious but they were bright yellow. I think you might need some more hiding spots, maybe java moss or some lower plants?

 

[OldMan47]

White gravel will make it hard to spot them. try looking along the very edge of the tank where the gravel meets the glass. I bet you will find some there laying very still right against that hard to reach corner. The adults will be missing them and since newborn fry are almost colorless you will miss them too. The only fish I routinely keep that have fry that go to the top of the tank are swordtails. Molly fry are fearless and can be found swimming out in the open. For all other common livebearers, look where I just told you. Corners and edges are their hiding places.

 

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

Here's how big she is now - haven't seen any new fry yet, but I'll keep looking!

 

[OldMan47]

Look a bit harder at your tank ZSP. That female is a long way from a drop if she is carrying anything at all.