Platy's Are Not Breeding

[snork6]

Ok so I know I mainly deal with livebearers and I know a lot about them but this one has got me stumped. my best friend decided to get into the fish hobby thanks to me showing him all about it. He cycled the tank properly using the advice given on the forum. ok so he wanted to try and raise some fry and I told him guppies and platys are the best place to start. so he got 4 female platy's from me that I raised and 1 male platy from our LFS. The problem is they will not breed! it has been 2 months not a single fry. i've been to is house a lot and the fish have not gotten bellies at all like they should when they are carrying fry. so whats up? also it's a 20 gallon tank 80 degrees fahrenheit. 

 

[betta fish]

Is he showing interest in the females and attempting breeding? perhaps get another male, sometimes they need a little competition!

 

[fish48]

[SIZE=10.5pt]80 degrees Fahrenheit is way to high if you can get the temp- down to 74f.[/SIZE]

 

[Ltygress]

Yes, lower the temperature. I have three platies in a tank with guppies, mollies, and female bettas. The tank is set up for the female bettas, but the guppies still breed. The mollies and platies won't though, because I keep it around 80. When I put them in any other tank (except the zebra pleco tank, because it's 86) they start "slapping" each other with tails and all, like they are READY to breed. But in the one with the female bettas, forget it.
 
But the suggestion about a second male MAY also work, as long as you have at least twice as many females (AT LEAST 4 females to 2 males). But try lowering the temp first, and see what happens.