robwillmoth

i have this fish and many of the same size i need a suggestion on how long it will take for them to have birth...

thank you

i just got them today so i don't know what to think...

robwillmoth

I introduced my fish today they are platys i have cycled my water for about 2 weeks now. I don't have a heater or a light.

4 of the platys are pregnant(i have 4 females and 2 males). Most sites suggested i have 2 females for every male.

The males seem to get aggressive when i have a light on in my room, i don't know why.

If i am missing anything direly important please let me know I have API test kits and my levels are normal.

One of the fish is acting very strange it isn't moving alot. i introduced it today so I'm not sure if it is anxiety or if it is ready to give birth. Any ideas?

Will i need a heater if i want them to give birth and if so what wattage for a 10 gal?

Since I want them to have babies(and keep the babies alive) is it suggested that i get a maternity section of the mother?

I also want to know how pregnant my fish are. they are all around this size.

thank you for your help.

Butterfly

Theres really no way to tell exactly how far along they are. When they get ready to deliver they will get kind of a boxy look to them.
Hope you don't mind but I merged those five one live posts into one post then merged the two threads. Posting a question in just one place will get more response to your questions. If you need to add something to a post you can use the edit button . thanks.
Carol

robwillmoth

thanks for your help

Butterfly

Welcome Let us know when they deliver
carol

robwillmoth

How do i properly change my water. i have 2 10 gallon tanks. should i put the fish in one while i clean the other. Is there a good way to clean the aquarium without a aquarium vacuum?

Butterfly

You don't remove fish from the tank when you do a water change. How are you removing the water now? an aquarium vacuum makes tank maintenance so much easier.
carol

Alessa

Not really, you need to only do a partial water change with a vacuum to take out all the poo. No more than 20% a week on a cycled tank. Is your tank cycled? if not then please read this:

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

and btw, when pregnant Platies will drop fry in about a month and become VERY fat and round, and develop a dark spot near their anal fin.

robwillmoth

i haven't done any water changes yet... do i need to treat the water before i add it to the tank or after i put it in the tank?

Butterfly

If your using buckets/containers to add the water back it's easier to add dechlorinator to the buckets.
Carol

robwillmoth

what dechlorinate would you suggest i use i have AmQuel+ as an all around cleaner(nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, Chloramines, and chlorine). would this suffice as a dechlorinate?

Also one of my fish is being very shy it is pregnant and the other fish a kind of following it around. I don't see any darkness on its belly. Could it be ready to give birth?

Butterfly

Prime is my dechlor of choice.
Carol

Alessa

No, it isnt, they get way bigger than that...

robwillmoth

okay. thank you. will i need air tubes to make the babies come out faster? doesn't raising the water temperature shorten how long it takes them to hatch?

robwillmoth

does any one have any ideas about what watt heater I will need for a 10 gallon tank?

Alessa

depends on your home temperature... 50 watts?

also, please read the article I already posted, it is VERY important for the health and lives of your fish.

Here it is again, http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

robwillmoth

my tank just started to get cloudy could it be a build up of ammonia?