Platy Just Given Birth

[jv24]

Hi , i have just noticed my platy has given birth. I have only seen one fry swimming around. I have read they can give birth to between 20-100 fry. Don't know if this is a stupid question but do they give birth to all the fry at once, or is over a period of days?
I don't know if they have been eaten by other fish or have been a victim of my filter. I would appreciate any advice on this matter. The only fish i have in the tank are 6 harlequins and 3 platies. Would the harlequins feed on the fish?
thanks

 

[SlyPolak]

ANYTHING big enough to eat the babies will... there is a chance that they were even eaten by the mother. there is also a high probability that they got sucked into the filter unless its a sponge filter..
I have heard putting stockings over filter intake tubes to prevent it, or you could just take a car sponge, cut it in half and make a hole in it... I prefer the latter as it creates TONS more surface area for bacteria......

I dont have too much experience with livebearers so Im not sure how long it take to "spit" out the fry, I know its not all at once tho.. maybe about a day..

 

[LJEV]

I don't know about platties but my guppy was still having them 2 days later and then a month later there popping out again and again and again.
Good idea with the car sponge though ( just make sure its a new one obviously )
I use net from the breeding hatchery I've got but I think I may just change to the sponge idea now.

 

[OldMan47]

A typical poeciliid, like a platy, fry drop will be over in just a few hours. Covering a filter inlet with a piece of filter sponge is a very old trick. A sponge filter is "open celled" so it passes water quite easily compared to most sponges designed for washing things. Most of those are "closed cell" sponges to hold water better. I am sure you could jury rig something with a car wash sponge but an open cell sponge will give better water flows.