Platy fry - yay!

[GlennLikesFish]

I'm fairly new to all this so i've only had a batch of fry once before, and they were all eaten! I bought one of them breeding trap thingys earlier today and when i got home i put my pregnant platy in there. Whatever your opinion on the breeding traps might be, it seemed to work cos within a few hours i had 30 platy fry! Well give or take a few, they keep moving! Anyways, i know they'll take a while to grow to a decent size but thinking ahead i don't really want 30 platys cos i've only got the one tank! So i'm wondering what to do with them all, would it be ok if i just let so many of them out of the breeding trap so that they'll most probably provide lunch for the others? I know that maybe sounds mean and i don't want to upset people but if it wasn't for putting them in the breeding trap they would have been eaten anyway. What do you think?

 

[Wedge]

Hi there, i was about to post a similar question, i did not use a trap, and only 1 fry suvived (4 days and counting), ive 3 pregnant platty and only 1 fry

 

[tstenback]

If you dont have the room or cant create/buy extra room for them then (also not trying to sound mean) let them out and let nature take its course. It's not going to be the easiest thing you have ever done but where will you find room for 30, 2 inch fish in about 8 weeks.
Also this will certainly not be the last batch of fry you will get from the platies. They are like underwater rabbits So later if yo get the room you can save a batch and do like some of us and either sell them to the lfs or trade them for other fish/equipment or even store credit.

Good luck making your decision

 

[DanioMan]

I also agree in that if you hadn't saved them, they would by default be subject to the tank, and its hazards.

I think that some of the fry can be left to their own devices without too much worry. The only concerns to overcome might be your own concerns! B)

I personally will leave about half of my platy fry to fend in the tank, and most definately I will provide some back to the LFS.. Usually can get some other fish in credit!

 

[crazie.eddie]

You may ask around who would want them. I breed guppies, mostly for feeding fry to my angel fish. I keep some and as they get older and dimorphism starts, I give most of the females for my african butterfly to eat and keep the males. I often frequently visit my LFS. When I do, I keep my eyes/ears open for people wanting guppies and when I find some, I just let them know I can give away free guppies.

 

[jenn22]

I work in a local pet store and sometimes we take fish from people and give credits and its not a bad idea to try to keep some good luck with whatever you decide to do

 

[Wedge]

Thx for you advice, i to now think that letting them fend for them selfs is best, i did not give it a thought that if all survived my tank would soon be over run with more horny platys.

 

[Phreaxer]

Thx for you advice, i to now think that letting them fend for them selfs is best, i did not give it a thought that if all survived my tank would soon be over run with more horny platys.

LOL.

 

[Aquagurl]

Hi!
I have 5 baby platies! So that's no problemfor me!
Congrats on you 30 fry! Anyway instead of just giving them to your fish for a snack, why don't you just let them grow a little bit and then sell or trade them to a local pet store! That's what I would probably do if I had 30 fry, not 5 !!!!! But anyways you might not want to let them out for now because some of them might die! So good luck! Do what you got to do!!!!!

 

[GlennLikesFish]

Thanks! I would more than happily sell them to my lfs but i didn't think they'd buy them off any old person, don't they have specialist suppliers?

 

[Tandor]

I did the same thing as you. When I bought my platies, my plan was to just let nature take its course, but when my first female had her babies, I was bummed that they all got eaten. So I got a breeder net and low and behold my second female had babies less than a week later. I now have 10 fry (down from 14) and have found homes with friends for most of them when they are old enough, the rest I will keep. I don't know what I will do when they are preggers again, I hope that maybe I can trade them to a lfs, or let nature take its course.

Tandor

 

[gingerjackie]

My Platy has had lots of babies and I did not have room for them, but my local shop took them. I did not ask anything for them but was just happy for them to go somewhere where they would not be food for another fish. I kept them until they were about half an inch long I have been to see them and they all seem fine. Hope someone buys them soon.
Ginger Jackie

 

[LiQuOrIcE]

Glenn,

Just saw another post of yours saying how you are in brockworth?

Im in brockworth and may be interested in some platies!

I live on the Farm opposite the rugby club in Mill Lane!

 

[sumer_kay]

I kept my fry in a breeder net for about 2 weeks, or was it 3..anyways after that I released them, and about 2/3rd were eaten, but 7 or 8 are still doing just fine (the bigger ones of the batch) I am in the same boat, and only have 1 10 gal atm.