Platy Fry

[Neptune54]

I have about 17 platy fry in a breeder net, and I've been talking to some people who might want to take them once they're big/old enough. I was thinking about giving them away once they're four weeks old. They're one week old right now. Those that I've talked to don't have a community aquarium, so there isn't a chance of them getting eaten. I know that they fully mature at 3-4 months, but I have two pregnant platys, and only one breeder net! When should they go to new homes? Unfortunately, another tank for the fry isn't an option for the moment. This is also my first time with fry of any kind, and as you may have guessed, it's exciting! I want to give all of the fry a chance.

 

[Fish Guy]

I have found Platy fry like most livebearer fry to be pretty hardy at young ages. I havn't had much trouble moving the fry I have had in the past. Either putting them in a rearingt ank or bagging them up and gving them away. But I would wait another week or so before moving them. What fish do you have in the community tank? I have had a lot of succes with livebearer fry when just leaving them in the tank with the parents. But I have lots floating plant cover though.

 

[Neptune54]

I have three male guppies and two pregnant platies. One of the platies seems kind of aggresive, though; she tried to eat the fry through the net a couple times in the beginning, but that might not be a problem now.

 

[OldMan47]

Your platy fry will not be mature at 4 months but they may look a lot like the ones in a LFS by then if they get lots of food and clean water. A juvenile of that age resembles an adult but is far smaller than a mature adult. If you keep them in a breeder net, they might be large enough to survive in your main tank area by that age. A breeder net must be considered an emergency housing, not a place to raise fry to adult size.

 

[Neptune54]

My fry are 11 days old now. I was thinking of putting them into the main tank at 2 weeks old- is that OK? They already look like they're too big for the other fish to eat, but I just want to make sure that they get enough food before then.

 

[OldMan47]

If they look too big to eat, you might try releasing one. If it does OK, you can let the rest out.