Pregnant Platy

[Marindalyn]

My boyfriend and I noticed that about 3 to 4 weeks ago our male platy's stopped chasing our female platy and she is getting fatter, but we have been getting mixed information on how long her gestation period should last? We have her in the breeding net right now, but we are worried it might be too soon. How long did it take for some of your platy's first pregnancy.

[darkfalz]

Mine took about 5 weeks from when I got her already pregnant.

[fish_doc]

There are several variables involved. This is why you are getting mixed information.

Some of the variables are tank temperture, past breeding, water conditions are just a few of them. In addition they can have several batches of fry off one encounter with their mate.

[Marindalyn]

We checked there water and Ph was a little high, so we did a 25% water change and it's fine now. Also, as far as we know this is her 1st pregnancy as well as ours, so we really do not know what to expect.

Also, does it take the same amount of time for guppies as platy's to give birth?

[Ringo]

usualy with liverbearers it takes about 4-5-6 weeks for the fish to have there first batch, then they will have fry around every three weeks.

what other tankmates do you have in the tank?

[Marindalyn]

6 platy's total- 4 girls and 2 boys
2 pleco
3 tetra
and today we got 2 more male platy and 1 very pregnant female who is in the breeding net.

We also got some bullseye 7.0 pH regulator to see if it will help

this is all in a 29g

[leafgirl115]

You should not have goten any more males.
YOur ratio is way of. You need 2 females for every male. you have 1 for every male.

[Marindalyn]

well hopefully she will have a lot of females because i am afraid to buy more females and have like a millon fry!

[fish_doc]

Nature does have a way of balancing things out. I had read a article that said in any species the proper male/female raito is usually kept in check and if it is offset by any reason gets back within balance within 2 generations. even the scientist cant figure out how.

[Marindalyn]

ok so how many pregnant platy's are ok in one breeding net? I looked very close at all my females and I have 3 pregnant... 2 ready to burst and 1 i am unsure, but it has been about 4 weeks... please help, i am unsure now on what to do!

[leafgirl115]

Only 1 per net. 2 would stress each other way to much.

[fish_doc]

What are all the fish in the tank? How many of each?

Sometimes the reverse is eaiser. Put the remaining fish in the breeder net and let the females swim free.

[Marindalyn]

5 female platy (3 pregnant), 4 male platy, 3 tetra...2 pleco

29 gallon tank

[Marindalyn]

We had 1 fry!!! so far... we took one of the moms out because the other one looked like she was giving birth, but as soon as we put her in the tank with the others a male started to chase her...

[darkfalz]

1 fry... lol...

[Marindalyn]

ok she was having another when i went to bed and when i woke up to check on them they were all gone but the mom!

Is there a way to make sure she does not eat them? Because I am guessing that is what happened!

[darkfalz]

Ideally for bearing/raising fry, they should have their own tank. My platy didn't eat her fry, at least she didn't eat many of them.

[Marindalyn]

So I should wait until she is done and then just move the fry? They're in a breeding net now. Wont it take like 2 weeks to get the water just right on a new tank? I have a fish about to POP!

[darkfalz]

I moved her the night before she gave birth, however I had the tank already set up with half the water from her own tank, and a sponge filter which was maturing in her tank with her. Use a bare tank, no gravel, some plants if you like and a sponge filter.

[Marindalyn]

Ok, I am going to set the tank up today for them...

Have you ever had a pregnant fish look like she had blood coming out of her? She looked like she had a small squirt of blood or some other red liquid come out of her last night. What does it mean?