Platy Fry

[kakihara]

Hi

One of my platties (obviously the female one) gave birth last week as I found a single fry hiding in the tank.

I rushed off and got a breeding trap to keep it away from the rest of the fish in the tank, so far so good.

But I've just read the pinned post about rearing fry and I haven't done any of it. I've no plant in the breeding trap and I can only feed the fish once a day because I'm out in work.

How will this affect the fry?

thanks

K

p.s.

I will try to get a floating plant on the way home.

p.p.s. I have 2 male and only one female platy, is this a good or a bad thing? I can put one more fish into my tank at the stocking level so would a female platy be the best option?

 

[Annastasia]

First of all, Congrats on the baby! It's a good idea to throw a plant in there, especially a live one. That goes into your next question, because if you have a live plant, the fry can eat off the planaria, algae, and other organisms living on the plant. If possible, I'd try to feed twice a day. Could you feed once in the morning and once in the evening?

Only feeding once a day will make him grow much slower, but if you put the plant in there, and he can eat off of that, he should be okay. When you do feed, try alternating in some Live/Frozen/Freeze-dried foods...it will be better for him.

As for your stocking...I'm afraid it is a problem. You ideally need 2-3 females per male, otherwise the male will pick on one female and stress her out very much. Having 1 female per 2 males is really going to put a lot of stress on that one female. Stress can lead to shorter lifespans, less immunity to disease, and fry birthing troubles, such as abortion. If you can, maybe you can take a male back and get a few females? Otherwise, what size tank do you have? You might be able to squeeze in 2 more females depending on your maintenance level and filter.