Platy Fry Born In Community Tank

[newfieprincess]

my pregnant platy had her fry in my community tank. I came home2 evenings ago and saw the fry swimming near bottom of tank.unfortunately i had no idea theplating was birthing and had moved a plant in the tank. i then spent some time watching and she did not birth anymore, later that evening i counted 4 fry.when i got up Saturday morning I could not find any fry so assumed all eaten, saturday night I counted 6 fry but very rarely to see them. today (sunday) i have only seen one
I am wondering if i should net the fry and move them or just allow them to try to survive in community tank. it is very well planted and has lots of hiding places.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

you can try to net the fry, but if it is already well planted with plenty of hiding, there is a chance that the fry will do well. If you really want to keep the fry, you may want to try and net them and keep them in a breeder net for a week or so.

 

[newfieprincess]

Thanks for your suggestion, its just everything I read said they gravitate to the top of the tank and these fry seem to stay near bottom in rooots and gravel or under rocks. I think I will just leave them in the community tank and try to learn more for when she births the next time.

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum newfieprincess.

Swordtail fry tend to go to the top, platy and guppy fry to the bottom and molly fry toward the middle. There is no general rule that can be used for livebearers except that better cover means better fry survival.

This tank is heavily planted and enjoys good fry survival.

This lightly planted tank also enjoys some fry survival, but not on the same scale.

 

[newfieprincess]

Thanks for the welcome and the info.
Unfortunately being new to keeping fish I had wanted to add a few more and the local pet store sold me an empire gudgeon (sp)and it ate all the fry and attacked and killed 3 guppies and 1 platy and even attempted to attack momma platy. so we had to get rid of him. now our tank is down to 3 platys and a shark(not sure name)but they get along fine and looks like momma is gonna have babies again but now I am unsure how to tell when she may go as we have a breeder for the fry to go in but dont want to stress out momma

 

[Man of fish]

How big is your tank and what does the shark look like?

 

[OldMan47]

You have at least 2 more weeks to get ready for a drop. Check out the pictures in my linked thread that I call My Molly's Progress in my signature area. It should help you get a feel for where your fish is in the fry carrying process.