Pregnant or just fat Platies?

[Whosthatgirl515]

I have 6 platies, two I believe are male and four females, we've been feeding them once a day. But here's the thing, we added 3 Pleco's to the tank and I drop their food in when the lights go out and I know the Platies are eating the Plecos food. Not even sure if the Plecos are eating. Anyway I have 4 of the platies that I believe to be female all look pregnant but it could just be their munching on the Pleco food all night.
If they're just fat how do I fast them but make sure the Pleco's eat too?

 

[Whosthatgirl515]

Nevermind I have just answered my own question, changed the tank water came back down to put the lids on the tank and saw a fry swimming around

 

[FroFro]

Nevermind I have just answered my own question, changed the tank water came back down to put the lids on the tank and saw a fry swimming around

Always assume a female platty is pregnant. Like mollies a platy can retain the sperm from one mating and have several batches of fry from this one mating. If you want to raise the fry I recommend getting a seperatr breeder tank to raise them as platy eat their young. If not make sure your fry have plenty of places to hide and that you baffle your filter intake so they don't get sucked in.

As for your pleco I would wait an hour or so after lights out to drop in the food. They are mostly nocturnal. If you are putting the food in just before or after lights out your platy are still very much awake and will eat. If you wait an hour or so it gives them time to fall asleep and be less alert to food being dropped in the tank.

 

[Whosthatgirl515]

Always assume a female platty is pregnant. Like mollies a platy can retain the sperm from one mating and have several batches of fry from this one mating. If you want to raise the fry I recommend getting a seperatr breeder tank to raise them as platy eat their young. If not make sure your fry have plenty of places to hide and that you baffle your filter intake so they don't get sucked in.

As for your pleco I would wait an hour or so after lights out to drop in the food. They are mostly nocturnal. If you are putting the food in just before or after lights out your platy are still very much awake and will eat. If you wait an hour or so it gives them time to fall asleep and be less alert to food being dropped in the tank.

Okay I have a finnex 24/7 I'll have to get an automatic feeder cuz I'm not staying up til 2 am every night! Ha
Thank you so much!

 

[fluttermoth]

How big is your tank, and what species of 'pleco' do you have?

Most plecs grow quite big, and become territorial as they mature, so you could have a whole world of problems coming your way....

 

[FroFro]

Okay I have a finnex 24/7 I'll have to get an automatic feeder cuz I'm not staying up til 2 am every night! Ha
Thank you so much!

Automatic feeders are terrible don't waste your money. You fish should be having there light off much soon than midnight. Id recommend getting a timer for your light so it goes off between 8 and 10 and by the time you get home around midnight you can put the food in.

 

[Whosthatgirl515]

How big is your tank, and what species of 'pleco' do you have?

Most plecs grow quite big, and become territorial as they mature, so you could have a whole world of problems coming your way....

It's a 55 gallon my husband wanted to get them and I'm really regretting it already. They poop way too dang much I'm having to clean the sand every other day haha. Their Clown Plecos, we have a couple other tanks so if we need to separate them in the future we can.

 

[Whosthatgirl515]

Automatic feeders are terrible don't waste your money. You fish should be having there light off much soon than midnight. Id recommend getting a timer for your light so it goes off between 8 and 10 and by the time you get home around midnight you can put the food in.

Good to know the Plecos aren't even eating the food anyway when I check the tank in the morning it's still there so I just take it out. The light already has a 24 timer built into it. I just changed the time to three sooner so it turns off at 10. We haven't had them for even a week yet. so I don't think they're adjusted yet. I think I'm just gonna go back to our fish store and find out what they're use to eating.

 

[FroFro]

Good to know the Plecos aren't even eating the food anyway when I check the tank in the morning it's still there so I just take it out. The light already has a 24 timer built into it. I just changed the time to three sooner so it turns off at 10. We haven't had them for even a week yet. so I don't think they're adjusted yet. I think I'm just gonna go back to our fish store and find out what they're use to eating.

Your pleco are most likely shy and not confident in their new home yet. My BN pleco hardly touches her wafers either but she nibbles now and again. I have more bottom feeders so it doesn't go to waste. Your plecos ARE eating you just don't see. Give it a few more weeks and you'll notice increased activity and interest in food. One thing my pleco goes NUTS over are organic Spinage leaves. I bought a veggie clip from pet smart. I take a leaf and give it a rinse in tank water, press a few slits in it with my nails to break the surface for her, and stick it on the clip and in the tank. Its gone in under an hour.

 

[Whosthatgirl515]

Your pleco are most likely shy and not confident in their new home yet. My BN pleco hardly touches her wafers either but she nibbles now and again. I have more bottom feeders so it doesn't go to waste. Your plecos ARE eating you just don't see. Give it a few more weeks and you'll notice increased activity and interest in food. One thing my pleco goes NUTS over are organic Spinage leaves. I bought a veggie clip from pet smart. I take a leaf and give it a rinse in tank water, press a few slits in it with my nails to break the surface for her, and stick it on the clip and in the tank. Its gone in under an hour.

Okay! That's what I was thinking. Having the veggie rounds sit in there all night has started to cause problems.