Red Wag Platy's... ?/10 Chance Of Pregnancy?

[Bluesand1313]

I recently bought two Red wag Platy's from my local Pet Store. I told the lady it didn't matter what genders, though to be completely honest I wasn't expecting to get an actual male and female pair. Now that I have Victoria and Bobbert (Most likely to change, lol), what is the chance of them reproducing?

 

[phantomlink]

Hard to say really, might be every month, might not be. In my 125 tank I have about 10 platy or so, 2 males and 8 females and its been almost 3 months and they've never been pregnant

 

[the_lock_man]

Bluesand - chances out of 10 that they'll reproduce? I'd say 11 or 12. As to whether any fry will survive, that depends on how much plant cover is in your tank. Livebearers are notoriously bad parents, it's not unknown for a female to drop a fry, turn straight round and eat it. They produce around 30 fry every 4-6 weeks, in the hope that some will survive to maturity. In the wild, the fry would swim as quickly as they could to the shallows where the adults couldn't follow. In the aquarium, they don't have that opportunity, so some java moss acts in much the same way. May I suggest, if you have room in the tank, to get another female or two, as this will divide the male's, ahem, "attentions" between the females, and allow each of them something of a rest. In extreme circumstances, a female platy can be stressed to death due to the constant "attentions" of a male.

Phantomlink, some of my comments also apply to your situation. I find it impossible to believe that none out of 8 females have ever been pregnant. I find it plausible that they've been pregnant, and that all the fry have been eaten, especially if the stocking level in your signature is accurate.

I kept platies for some while, and never once saw a fry, although I was aware of the females displaying "imminent drop" behaviour.

 

[phantomlink]

I know it's possible but I've been watching them like a hawk the past month and q half, they never go dark, they never get fat and my tank is full of live plants and hornwort for fry to hide in, and still nothing. I've put my faith in my livebearer tank one of its occupants gave birth on the ride home so I know it might happen again in a month

 

[Bluesand1313]

I can get another two females, no problem. I'll do so. He doesn't seem to be bugging her, he's pretty shy. Actually, I think she's the one that chases him, lol.

 

[the_lock_man]

I can get another two females, no problem. I'll do so. He doesn't seem to be bugging her, he's pretty shy. Actually, I think she's the one that chases him, lol.

I suspect that'll change as he settles into his new surroundings.

 

[snazy]

She's already pregnant for sure if she wasn't kept in a species tank. They hold sperm for months and reproduce for ages without a male after they mate once. As already suggested, the problem is getting the fry to survive if you want it. I always have some surviving from each batch and I don't bother making any effort but that depends if the fry can get enough small food and hiding places because the adults will snack on them until grown enough. They can get into the filter too by accident if the intake is too open.

 

[Bluesand1313]

Yes, I put mine into the breeder box. Two of them died today. Cause I've been so busy lately {My mothers fault, sigh} that I didin't have enough time to change the water for about a week. ;n; I think that's why the two died today.