Pregnant Platy

[FishNewbie]

Hello, I think one of my Platys is very pregnant, Atleast that is what I am guessing. She is very very fat, and her belly is getting box shaped. I can not see if she has a gravid spot because she is a red wag and too dark to tell. She started hiding a bit more or she just swims up and down the side of the tank. I put her in one of those breeding boxes, but she does not look happy. How can I tell when she is about ready to drop. How long can I keep her in the breeder box. I do not wanna stress her out but I would like to try and save some of the fry, but "princess" ok my 6year old niece named her, does not look happy at all. Thanks for the advice

 

[Annastasia]

Yes, breeder boxes can definitely stress fish out. I wouldn't leave her in there more than 24 hours. If she hasn't dropped, take her out for a while. The best bet would be to add a lot of plants/decorations to the tank, so she can have her fry in there. You could always catch the fry once they are born, and put them in a breeder box/net.

 

[FishNewbie]

Ok I guess I found out about my platy. I looked in the breeding box and there are 4 little fry in the bottom, Yeah I just wonder what they will look like when they grow up. None have any color to them I thought maybe some would be red since momma is a redwag. Ok my next question anyone know about how long it will take fro her to have her fry? I do not want to leave her in the box to long as she is a large platy and looks a little cramped. Is it ok that the fry seem to just be sittting on the bottom of the breeding box, they move around a bit then just lay there? I have a breeding net with a few guppy fry that dropped last week, Can I put my platy fry in with them? They are all so small I do not think I have to worry about anyone eating anyone else

 

[PoPoV]

Yes, your fry should all be just fine together. As Annastasia all ready said, you should keep your mom fish out of the breeding box. I like to let mine drop in the big tank and then very gently take the fry and put them into the breeding box. This method allows me to keep stress to a min. Also having the fry in a breeding net lets me control their feeding. Make shure you feed them 6-8 times a day to ensure good health