marital problems

[mistrymachine]

I have a female blue platy and a sunfire male platy.They have been in the same tank together for over two months and shes not getting pregnant.I could of swore she would be because at one point the male swam above her wherever she went.He wouldnt leave her for a second,But sadly she didnt get pregnant.Should I be getting them marraige counciling or what???Maybe shes not happy with their relationship? :kira: No,but really Could I have an infertile fish?Thanx

 

[MAM]

actually, i think it may be a color issue. i had a blue mickey mouse with my sunset fire and red wag (once upon a time). i had the two males first, and after they started bullying each other i got them a girlfriend. neither showed any interest in her. i wondered if it was because she wasn't brightly colored or something. never got the chance to get a male blue mickeymouse to see what might happen. that was just my observations on this though.......... hope you get fry someday soon though

 

[ruffmeister]

one of those things really its nature perhaps they just arent horny enough and not interested in mating you could try another type

 

[guppymonkey]

It could have to do with diet, water conditions or water temperature (or all three). While livebearers are known as being prolific they still require good water if they are to have a successful pregnancy. A friend of mine used to have guppies and could never get them to have babies. I was curious to try to find out why not and once I got a look at her tank I knew. She never cleaned the thing and never changed its water! She just let it evaporate down and then simply added new water to it!

This is probably not true of you as anyone that talks on this board is bombarded with advice about how to keep a good tank.


I have two male swordtails and one originally looked like a female. I couldn't figure out why "she" wasn't getting pregnant. Then after awhile I found out that "she" was turning into a HE! I guess thats why mine didn't mate. Can platies also late into males?

 

[Mamaschild]

I don't think this is uncommon?? I have had an Orange, High-fin Platy female for over 6 months. She is healthy, VERY colorful, and was full-grown (or close to it) when I got her. SHE HAS NEVER BEEN PREGGERS.

Both of the males I have had during the 6 months have either paid NO attention to her, or simply chased her away constantly. My Blue Mickey was totally color biased and hated Orange fish of ANY kind, so that explains him. The other one I have no explanation for. Apparently she is just not what they want for a mate.

I have also noticed that my Platys are monogomous for the most part. They will choose one female (sometimes 2) and not pay any attention to any others in the tank. I have no idea why, just the nature of the fish???

And, Yes, it's possible to have an infertile fish.....but how do you know?

With Swordtails, it's easy to think a young male is a female. They are slower to develope then Platys or Mollys in my experience. But all of my Platys have been sexable by 4 months, tops. I had a Swordtail that I SWORE was female at about 6-7 months old. Then, in a span of about 2 weeks, he developed his gonopodium and his Sword and was a BIG BEAUTIFUL male. Patience is the key with them. NOT my strong suit

 

[mistrymachine]

The male is veeery interested in her again and follows her like a lost puppy.Maybe this time Ill get lucky! But what is really weird is that the sunfire platy is also very intterested in my balloon belly molly He turns sideways and backs into her.she will then return the affection by wobbeling backwards and rubbing her butt against his but This is very ammusing to watch.Could it?...no,can they?...no Is it possible to have balloon belly platys?This has been going on for a week or so! Any ideas?

 

[mistrymachine]

Well bad news My one baby balloon body baby passed away today.No visible signs of disease besides string pooping wich her mother does also.She seemed fine and eating well but not growing very quick.I feel really bad and keep wondering if there was something I could of done but I know you cant save em' all I had her for over a month so I thought she was gonna make it.Ill have to research fry more and hope for better results next time.My sunfire platy is still mating with balloon belly molly?? He looks very tired and was resting on a rock on and off all day yesterday.This worried me so I gave him some peas and he is swimming around fine today.But every fish that swims by him he will turn sideways and show his belly to them???What is this all about.Also he seems to be in some sort of trance or a zone.Any Ideas?Thanx

 

[aernympha]

some platysdon't like each other sometimes sometimes they like other platys loads and male will always have they favourite female!!! i call it there wife!!! hehehe in my experince platy are quite loyal...sometimes i have had blue calico mickey and he has mated sucessfully with a red wag!! but he hate s my smaler female..... dunno why and he likes this young female ..... whos only just matured .... i think it really depends on the fish really i don't think colour has anything to do with it as i don't think fish see colour not sure..i think males usually prefer larger females!! and a dominant male prefers a dominant female

 

[Mamaschild]

aernympha, if fish don't see color, why would mine chase off only orange fish? Green Swordtails, Peppered Cories, Pleco, etc, he never bothered. ONLY orange fish

Also, why would fish BE so colorful and use the color to attract mates, if they can't see it?

I could be way off in this, it is just my opinion. I have never heard anything scientific about fish seeing in color

 

[mistrymachine]

any idea if the molly and platy can mate???He is still exhibiting this strange behavior towards her

 

[petshop johnny]

perhaps your platys is a hybred they can't breed most are sterile.or some fish need insect larve to induce breeding.they sell insect larva for this purpose.im not sure if this is the case with platys.but im sure it something to that nature.
no need endlessly worring about your fishes sexlife.nature always takes its course> birth,life, death >*))))>E

 

[Mamaschild]

mistrymachine, nope, Platy and Molly can't produce fry.....not to say they won't try

Platy and Swordtail can, and Molly and Guppy can supposedly, but I don't know that I have ever heard a personal story of it happening??

 

[dirty332]

Well i dont think it is a color or an unfertileable fish i think you should just bump up the heat a little bit and see what happens from there if not buy another that might do the trick G/L

 

[Inchworm]

This is a very interesting thread!

I've had platties that never seemed to breed, too, but since they were in my community tank, just because they were pretty, I never gave it much thought. But, I do remember wondering why I never even saw one fry among the plants.