Platy Breeding Traps Etc.

[LoachLover!]

I have picked up some gorgeous platies today (1m and 3f) and I am kind of just planning for when they do have fry. I may be wrong, but I suspect they are all pregnant. They were housed with many males at my LFS so I guess it makes sense that they are pregnant! Anyway, I plan to raise some batches of fry, not all, just some. At the moment another tank is out of the question. Later this year, a 10 gal might me possible, just not yet. There is NO way at all any fry could survive in my main tank IMO - ok, maybe like one or two, but that would be it (Plus, I want to be able to raise some of 'em!) My bleeding hearts, rams and zebra loaches are super greedy and super fast, so some little platy fry in my tank would have no chance. Unfortunately, a divider wouldn't work in my tank either, as I have a 3D BG and I don't want to have to move stuff around. So, I guess I am left with a breeding trap/net as an option. I have read the stickies on here and have read info on various places online but I can't seem to find out what I need to So.....

I have looked at the two options - plastic and net. I am baffled!! I know the plastic traps are well known for having fry escape, so I guess thats not great! That then leaves the net. Can the female be in this at the same time as the fry when she is giving birth? Will she not just eat them all? Would either of these traps work?

This one is plastic, but it seems ok. Are the vents on the bottom likely to allow the fry to escape?

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AQUARIUM-FISH-FRY-BREEDING-BREEDER-TANK-TRAP-BETTA-H79-/200584563877?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item2eb3c58ca5

There is this net then. Would the fry not just swim up to be eaten by the mum when she has finished dropping her fry?

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Double-Fish-Net-Breeder-for-Aquarium-Breeding-Guppy-Molly-Platy-Fry-Trap-NB3202A-/170825916617?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item27c604a0c9#ht_836wt_986

Are there any cheap ways of making an effective DIY trap? I saw one that was made out of a milk bottle. Is this a good way of making one?

I am probably over-complicating this, but I don't want to stress the Mother platy (Me!!) or have all the babies being eaten.

Sorry to ask this - it has probably been asked a million times, but I dunno!!

Thanks in advance

 

[Staxx]

i have the top one and its utter #106###. its really small its not big enough for a platy nevermind one trying to give birth.

 

[ninjacheesefish]

What I would do (if you have the money) is buy both.

Basically you can let the molly give birth in the plastic fry trap so they are safe from their mum, once the molly has finished dropping her fry, pop her back in the tank. Then place the fry from the plastic trap into the net trap so they're secure and still in the main tank, plus they're safe from your other fish.
Your right in saying the plastic ones are easy for fry to escape from, but are good for the birthing process.

The net ones are good for keeping fry in, but not that great for birthing as there is no protection from the mother.

NB: If you have a plec or something similar they can rasp at the netted tank and create holes in it.

 

[LoachLover!]

Thanks! Ok, that makes sense. I will probably buy both then I don't have a pleco, but I do have ottos. Are they likely do do that?

Oh, and unrelated to breeding traps, I have a platy who is behaving very oddly. I only bought them today, and 3 of them appear to be doing great. They are eating, swimming around etc, but one of the females isn't. She is hanging at the top of the tank in the corner by the heater. She will then move away, be she is swimming across the back only. Does it sound like she is just settling in or is she ill? Maybe I am just worrying too much

 

[ninjacheesefish]

Nope your ottos should be fine with the breeding net
Are there any other symptoms? Like gasping for air or anything like that?
OR it could be that she's just settleing in, just getting used to her new enviroment, keep an eye on her though, if her condition gets worse seek some help.
I bought 5 columbian tetras a couple of weeks back and they're only just coming out of hiding.

 

[LoachLover!]

It's odd, because she is just starting to move a bit more now and come around with the others. Fingers crossed she will remain fine now! She is still not as confident, but literally in the past 5 mins or so she has moved away! Thanks anyway

What are some of the signs of them being pregnant - I have read various things about it etc, but I am still a bit unsure. At what stage should they be moved to a net/breeder?

 

[Akasha72]

Hi! I've just read your query and wanted to say there is no fool proof way of stopping mummy platy/guppy/molly from eating her fry.

The plastic traps are the best idea - in theory. The fry are supposed to fall into the bottom through a plastic grill but they can also swim back through it and get back to mum. Really small fry can also swim through the slots and get into your main tank as you've already said.

The net traps stop the fry from getting into the main tank but they often don't seperate mum from fry.

In the past I've put mum into the plastic trap with the net bag around it so any escaping fry do go far.

The only real way to stop any getting eaten is to sit in front of birthing mum with a turkey baster and suck up the fry as they are being born and bearing in mind that the birthing process can go on for several hours that's not ideal either.

However you choose to go about it you will need to accept that some fry will get eaten no matter how hard to try to stop it from happening.
But bear in mind that livebearers drop fry every month or two (depending on the livebearer) and they can drop 50+ fry at a time. Rearing say 15 fry is far easier than trying to rear 70 - been there and it was the most stressful thing ever. I had to go to my lfs and beg them to take them away at 3 weeks old.

Good luck with it anyway and I'll look forward to seeing fry pics

 

[LoachLover!]

Thanks! That's great - the net bag you mentioned - is that an actual bag? I have seen zip net bags for tanks on eBay before, is it something like that?

Thanks, and sorry about all the questions

 

[Akasha72]

questions are fine! It's what we're here for. I got both my traps from P@H. One is a floating plastic one, the other has a plastic cage that snaps together and a fine mesh bag goes around it. I discovered I could get the plastic trap into it with a bit of 'help' (if in doubt force it lol) It worked out but it was fiddly. I got the turkey baster idea off this site and I prefer that way in all honesty. It's a lot less stressful for mummy fish

 

[LoachLover!]

Thank you! That sounds like a good idea

Are they these two?

http/www.petsathome.com/shop/2-in-1-fish-hatchery-by-marina-30341

http/www.petsathome.com/shop/fish-breeder-net-by-pets-at-home-28478

Thanks

 

[LoachLover!]

Thinking about it, would a 8-10L tank be too small to raise some platies in? If that is ok, could I just get a cheap plastic one and add a little heater and filter? It probably won't cost a huge amount more

Sorry, another question - looking at filters - I know sponge filters are good, but would this one most likely suck up the fry/be too stong? http/www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aquarium-1/aquarium-filters/internal-filters/200l-h-aquarium-internal-filter.html

 

[OldMan47]

A net is probably your best bet. I would use the largest net available and stuff it with either java moss or najas grass. When the drop happens, the female will have trouble chasing her fry through the moss and many, not all, will survive. Once she is done with her drop, remove her to prevent further cannibalization. I have even had this result when I was able to provide good cover in a 10 gallon tank. I never did lose those fry to predation although the female stayed with them for the next 6 weeks.

NB: It sure helps if the female is well fed and not hungry when the drop happens.

 

[LoachLover!]

Ok, thanks! That makes sense!!! Thank you

Oh and instead of java moss, would a load of these do the trick?

http/www.petsathome.com/shop/green-fern-aquarium-plants-by-supa-16362

 

[ninjacheesefish]

The java moss is just something for the fry to hide in. I just have plants in my tank which the fry hide in. It's all personal prefernce really. Your more likely to have more survivng fry with more hidey holes.

 

[Akasha72]

sorry loachlover, only just seen your replies. Those are the products from p@h I was talking about.

Java moss is brilliant when you have fry - not only does it give them a hiding place but also gives them some food as it has microscopic goodies in it that they can feed off (you still have to feed them baby flake aswell though)