Platy gave birth but only 3 fry:(

[appleblossom]

We have had our community tank set up for about 5 months now in which we have 3 wagtail platys, 3 red platys and 2 blue tuxedo platys. We have 1 male of each. about a month ago we discovered a single red platy baby hiding in a plant which we put into our breeder trap to stop him getting eaten.

We decided to set up a breeding tank which has just finished cycling and was ready to put one species of platy in at a time to breed, we noticed last night that one of the red platys was fatter and her stomach was a different shape than the others, so we went to get a tank divider for the breeding tank today to stop any fry getting sucked into the filter and to seperate the boys from the girls before breeding, on the way home from the fish store we got a phone call saying there was a baby in the community tank, she had already given birth!

So after a rush home we managed to net 2 fry which are now in the new tank, with the one survivor from the last pregnancy. One is still hiding in the main tank, but that is all we can find....

I thought platys had about 15-30 babies a time, did they all get eaten? We thought that must have been what happened last time too

Also can platys breed between species? one of the new babies is red like his mum, but the other one is a bluey purpley colour, whats going on there??

All help appreciated!!

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Yes, they can breed between different colors, and even species.

They probably did get eaten, because even if it's the females first batch of fry, there should still be at least 10.

Just wait until next time and get the female into the breeding tank at least a week before the drop date. This reduces stress and ensures that you don't lose fry (or as many because the females will only be so hungry).

Good luck.

 

[appleblossom]

just caught the 3rd fry, still cant see any more in there though, its another red one!

 

[Tempestuousfury]

They sometimes burrow under the gravel. They also hide in small crevices and under bubble bars and the like.

 

[appleblossom]

ok i'll keep my eyes open!! I just hope the puffer doesnt find any and decide theyre dinner

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Chances are it's already eaten the rest of them. However, all the fish in your tank would probably eat them, even the mother.

Good luck. If you don't find any, wait for the next batch. Soon you'll be sorry you kept the fry, regardless of how many females you have.

 

[appleblossom]

hehe thats true, I guess it was a nice free dinner for the rest of the fish!

 

[Stryker]

The first batch ever for my young guppy was only 5. I know this sounds terrible but if you catch your other fish doing a poop and it looks rich, even red in colour, chances are they've been eating live feeders.... aka fry, sorry.

 

[appleblossom]

aah dont tell me that, I'll spend all night watching them poo!

 

[Ben]

also look near the heater and filter.....and if uve got any stones or little rocks theyll most probably be under there.

 

[EX-AmP]

haha thats so true stryker. my first time i saw my fish give birth was when she was taking a crap. when the crap fell like nuggets to the bottom i thought it was fairly funny. i then looked closer and saw fry. i remember everything about it

 

[H20-Cam]

o.....they hide in gravel? i thot they were dead!