babies...what should i do????

Lydia · 03-05-2005, 09:33 PM

my platy had babies....i didnt even know she was pregnant....there are about 10-15 as far as i can tell....what should i do? what can i feed them? should i seperate them from my other fish? my other fish are a platy (the mom) a female guppy a black molly and 2 corydoras (the dad was a swordtail that died about 1-2 weeks ago from ick) any suggestions whatsoever will be greatly appreciated!!!! thanx in advance!

ps. i have never had platy fry before so i have no clue whatsoever what to do

shev · 03-05-2005, 09:54 PM

well, break out the cigars. if there arent many hiding areas, like plants and stuff, you can seperate them in a breeder net, even their parents may eat them. you can feed them crushed up prepared foods, but live is best, like baby brine shrimp or microworms. feed many small portions, fry have small stomachs, so need to be fed often and very little.

Lydia · 03-06-2005, 07:57 AM

there are alot of hiding places in there....and it is a 15 gallon tank....but i think i will get a breeder net.....thank you!!

**fish_doc** · 03-06-2005, 09:12 AM

WHen using a breeder net I usually take a turkey baster and suck up any uneaten food of the bottom of the net a couple times a day. This helps make sure there is as little waste in the net as possible.

Lydia · 03-06-2005, 12:45 PM

how can i transfer the babies to the breeder net?

**fish_doc** · 03-06-2005, 01:02 PM

I have used a brine shrimp net. They usually have a white mesh instead of the green net used for adult fish nets. The green nets usually have holes to big to catch fry in.

resser · 03-06-2005, 08:36 PM

If you don't have a small enough net try a turkey baster! You would be surprised at how many you can get if you are quick enough.

Lydia · 03-06-2005, 10:14 PM

they wouldnt get harmed getting rushed into the baster?

Lexus · 03-08-2005, 03:07 PM

I wouldnt think so, babies get sucked into filters and such all the time and survive.

**fish_doc** · 03-08-2005, 08:23 PM

The impellers when they get sucked up a filter can kill them pretty quick though.

resser · 03-08-2005, 08:51 PM

no, the suction isn't that bad. I use it all the time. another option is using an air hose and do some LIGHT sucking with your mouth.

Lydia · 03-09-2005, 02:02 PM

well, i got all of the babies (except one that i can never seem to catch) into the breeder net....i didnt have a turkey baster and i forgot to buy one so i caught them in a net, then held the rim of the net just above the water line so that they were in the water in the net, then got them out with a tablespoon and transferred them in to the breeding net....so they wouldnt get caught in the net....i have tried doing light suction with my mouth before when i had to do a water change (to get the water flowing from the tank to the bucket) and it didnt work too well....i ended up with a mouthful of nasty fish tank water [schild=8 fontcolor=808000 shadowcolor=C0C0C0 shieldshadow=1]yuchk![/schild] i havent tried that again

thank you for the suggestions, though!

resser · 03-11-2005, 10:15 AM

next time use a longer hose, and less sucking. you don't have to get the babies all the way to the top of the hose. Just inside. Then take your thumb and cover the sucking end to create suction until you can transfer.

Pia · 03-15-2005, 12:21 AM

Well, you have to separate them. =) But, yes get a breeder net. Or breeder grass for protection.

03-05-2005, 09:33 PM	#1
Lydia Ichthus Owner Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: FL Posts: 1,905	babies...what should i do???? my platy had babies....i didnt even know she was pregnant....there are about 10-15 as far as i can tell....what should i do? what can i feed them? should i seperate them from my other fish? my other fish are a platy (the mom) a female guppy a black molly and 2 corydoras (the dad was a swordtail that died about 1-2 weeks ago from ick) any suggestions whatsoever will be greatly appreciated!!!! thanx in advance! ps. i have never had platy fry before so i have no clue whatsoever what to do

03-05-2005, 09:54 PM	#2
shev Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Montana Age: 20 Posts: 1,591	Re: babies...what should i do???? well, break out the cigars. if there arent many hiding areas, like plants and stuff, you can seperate them in a breeder net, even their parents may eat them. you can feed them crushed up prepared foods, but live is best, like baby brine shrimp or microworms. feed many small portions, fry have small stomachs, so need to be fed often and very little.

03-06-2005, 07:57 AM	#3
Lydia Ichthus Owner Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: FL Posts: 1,905	Re: babies...what should i do???? there are alot of hiding places in there....and it is a 15 gallon tank....but i think i will get a breeder net.....thank you!!

03-06-2005, 09:12 AM	#4
fish_doc Advisor to Neptune (Mod) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 3,881 Blog Entries: 14	Re: babies...what should i do???? WHen using a breeder net I usually take a turkey baster and suck up any uneaten food of the bottom of the net a couple times a day. This helps make sure there is as little waste in the net as possible. __________________ Dave (fish_doc) A World of fish

03-06-2005, 12:45 PM	#5
Lydia Ichthus Owner Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: FL Posts: 1,905	Re: babies...what should i do???? how can i transfer the babies to the breeder net?

Members currently in the Chat:0
	Users In Chat Room: There are several users in chat now! Don't Be Shy - click here and come on in!

03-06-2005, 01:02 PM	#6
fish_doc Advisor to Neptune (Mod) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 3,881 Blog Entries: 14	Re: babies...what should i do???? I have used a brine shrimp net. They usually have a white mesh instead of the green net used for adult fish nets. The green nets usually have holes to big to catch fry in. __________________ Dave (fish_doc) A World of fish

03-06-2005, 08:36 PM	#7
resser Fishy Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21	Re: babies...what should i do???? If you don't have a small enough net try a turkey baster! You would be surprised at how many you can get if you are quick enough.

03-06-2005, 10:14 PM	#8
Lydia Ichthus Owner Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: FL Posts: 1,905	Re: babies...what should i do???? they wouldnt get harmed getting rushed into the baster?

03-08-2005, 03:07 PM	#9
Lexus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Age: 22 Posts: 2,405	Re: babies...what should i do???? I wouldnt think so, babies get sucked into filters and such all the time and survive. __________________ 55 Gallon 2 Blood Parrots 2 Angelfish 1 Fantail Goldfish 46 Gallon 1 Albino Bristlenose 2 Angelfish 4 African Dwarf Frogs 4 Black Skirt Tetras 5 Zebra Danios 8 Tiger Barbs 9 Neon Tetras 13 Assorted Corys 29 Gallon 8 Daffodil Cichlids & fry 1 Electric Blue Crayfish 10 Gallon 2 Snails

03-08-2005, 08:23 PM	#10
fish_doc Advisor to Neptune (Mod) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Illinois Age: 40 Posts: 3,881 Blog Entries: 14	Re: babies...what should i do???? The impellers when they get sucked up a filter can kill them pretty quick though. __________________ Dave (fish_doc) A World of fish

03-08-2005, 08:51 PM	#11
resser Fishy Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21	no, the suction isn't that bad. I use it all the time. another option is using an air hose and do some LIGHT sucking with your mouth.

03-09-2005, 02:02 PM	#12
Lydia Ichthus Owner Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: FL Posts: 1,905	Re: babies...what should i do???? well, i got all of the babies (except one that i can never seem to catch) into the breeder net....i didnt have a turkey baster and i forgot to buy one so i caught them in a net, then held the rim of the net just above the water line so that they were in the water in the net, then got them out with a tablespoon and transferred them in to the breeding net....so they wouldnt get caught in the net....i have tried doing light suction with my mouth before when i had to do a water change (to get the water flowing from the tank to the bucket) and it didnt work too well....i ended up with a mouthful of nasty fish tank water [schild=8 fontcolor=808000 shadowcolor=C0C0C0 shieldshadow=1]yuchk![/schild] i havent tried that again thank you for the suggestions, though!

03-11-2005, 10:15 AM	#13
resser Fishy Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 21	next time use a longer hose, and less sucking. you don't have to get the babies all the way to the top of the hose. Just inside. Then take your thumb and cover the sucking end to create suction until you can transfer.

03-15-2005, 12:21 AM	#14
Pia Fishy Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 15	Well, you have to separate them. =) But, yes get a breeder net. Or breeder grass for protection.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What kind of babies?	Lydia	Livebearers	4	12-08-2005 03:51 PM
Babies!!!	Doodles	Livebearers	12	10-05-2005 10:04 AM
babies, babies, and more babies!	chrisinha	Livebearers	6	09-20-2005 11:04 PM
babies!!!!!	Lydia	General Freshwater	3	03-15-2005 09:10 AM
Burtoni Mouthbrooders had babies!	adamjacobs	Cichlids	2	02-09-2005 11:34 AM