Will Platys Eat Newborn Fry?

[linher1215]

I have 1 mickey mouse male, 1 red wag male, and 3 red wag females in the same 20 gallon tank. The only other thing in the tank is 2 corys and 3 otos. What are the chances of the females giving birth in the tank and the other fish leaving the fry alone? Will the other platys gobble up the fry as fast as they are born?

The males are chasing the females like crazy. I am having a hard time telling when the females are ready to give birth since they are orange and not clearish like a guppy. I do not have a breeder net. I have some live plants as well as some plastic plants in the tank. About 10 plants altogether. The thing is, the males are not giving the females a moments peace so that is why I am thinking the time for fry may be soon.

 

[drewry]

hi

the otheres will eat the fry but the fact you have plants for them to hide is good as some might survive

 

[stiffler69]

Look for the squaring off its the ultimate key with plattys ive found as soon as they become square instead of the normal round shape thats when the fry are about to arrive

 

[LauraFrog]

^ I second that.

I have several platies and WAY too many fry in buckets, so I let the females who do not produce attractive fry drop in the tank. My platies and two mollies cleaned up a whole drop overnight. If you want them to survive, you should net them as soon as they appear and put them in seperate containers. Newborn fry are too small to eat pellets or flakes, and there is a good chance that they will not survive if they aren't fed crushed flake or commercial fry food.