Beginner Fry Questions

Hey ya'll. So I'm a newbie to the hobby and on Christmas Eve I realized one of my Platy was looking a bit robust. A google search later and it appears she's pregnant. I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me that this could happen but I have no idea what the next steps are. What do ya'll do with the fry? Do I need to set up another tank or let nature run its course? With how many times they can breed it seems unreasonable to let this keep happening. I'm just at a loss. Any insight is much appreciated.

 

What’s the tank size and full stocking? Depending on the fish, you may not have many fry survive. You could setup a grow out tank and then donate the fry to your LFS. Otherwise you may want to rehome any female platys you have.

 

Really depends what you want to do. We just let our platy fry in the main tank with an if they survive they deserve to stay kind of attitude. We also have a lot of places for them to hide. Just cover up the filter intake to at least spare the babies that horrible end.

 

If you don't have hiding places, they will most likely be eaten. But if they do survive, local fish stores usually take them (Though petsmart/petco charges).

 

What’s the tank size and full stocking? Depending on the fish, you may not have many fry survive. You could setup a grow out tank and then donate the fry to your LFS. Otherwise you may want to rehome any female platys you have.

I have a 29g with 4 Platy, 2 Molly, 3 Gourami, and a catfish. It's heavily planted so there's plenty of spaces to hide but I've heard the Gourami will likely find them. I've had the setup since November. None of my other fish look pregnant. I'm assuming she's the only female?

 

I have a 29g with 4 Platy, 2 Molly, 3 Gourami, and a catfish. It's heavily planted so there's plenty of spaces to hide but I've heard the Gourami will likely find them. I've had the setup since November. None of my other fish look pregnant. I'm assuming she's the only female?

Could you take a picture? If you search online you should find a couple ways to tell if your platys are male or female. Based on your setup I’d say a few fry will survive, but you should be able to donate the survivors to a fish store if you start having overcrowding issues.

 

Really depends what you want to do. We just let our platy fry in the main tank with an if they survive they deserve to stay kind of attitude. We also have a lot of places for them to hide. Just cover up the filter intake to at least spare the babies that horrible end.

How many of them usually survive? I'm sure the answer is specific only to your tank but it would be nice to get an idea. According to AQadvisor I'm at 88% stocking for my tank. I want to give them a chance to survive but I'd prefer to not end up with an overstocked tank. In the same breath if I did start another tank now it won't be cycled in time and that creates another set of problems. I'll definitely order a sponge to cover the filter. Thanks for that. I hadn't even considered that could happen.

 

How many of them usually survive? I'm sure the answer is specific only to your tank but it would be nice to get an idea. According to AQadvisor I'm at 88% stocking for my tank. I want to give them a chance to survive but I'd prefer to not end up with an overstocked tank. In the same breath if I did start another tank now it won't be cycled in time and that creates another set of problems. I'll definitely order a sponge to cover the filter. Thanks for that. I hadn't even considered that could happen.

If you want to start another tank I highly suggest you take some filter media out of your main tank. It should instant cycle your tank, but you could add ammonia and test for a week to make sure, if you wanted too.

 

Could you take a picture? If you search online you should find a couple ways to tell if your platys are male or female. Based on your setup I’d say a few fry will survive, but you should be able to donate the survivors to a fish store if you start having overcrowding issues.

 

I’m not sure which platy is the one you think is pregnant? I’d say the one in the top left is female, but I can’t tell if the others are female.

 

If you want to start another tank I highly suggest you take some filter media out of your main tank. It should instant cycle your tank, but you could add ammonia and test for a week to make sure, if you wanted too.

That's a great idea. I have an Aquaclear filter. Would I just use some of the biomax in a new filter to do that?

 

That's a great idea. I have an Aquaclear filter. Would I just use some of the biomax in a new filter to do that?

Yup. Just make sure not to take most of it, because that could crash your main tank.

 

I’m not sure which platy is the one you think is pregnant? I’d say the one in the top left is female, but I can’t tell if the others are female.

She is. She was quite slim before. According to the internet the black spot is also an indicator. It was a drastic change basically overnight.

 

Unless youre ready to have MULTIPLE tanks, dont bother trying to save all the fry. Id just leave your tank the way it is and let whatever happens, happen.

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you really want any of the fry to survive you will need to provide them better hiding places. Although you do have some plants, none of them are thick enough to offer any protection for the babies. They may be able to go inside that driftwood but will get eaten when they come out to eat.

A thick grove of water wisteria or maybe a big bunch of hornwort or even guppy grass would help them. Floating plants are good too. Your fry will also find microscopic food on the plants.

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you really want any of the fry to survive you will need to provide them better hiding places. Although you do have some plants, none of them are thick enough to offer any protection for the babies. They may be able to go inside that driftwood but will get eaten when they come out to eat.

I thick grove of water wisteria or maybe a big bunch of hornwort or even guppy grass would help them. Floating plants are good too. Your fry will also find microscopic food on the plants.

Thanks for the suggestion. I think I'm going to set up a 10gallon with a sponge filter and at least some of the plants mentioned above. Keeping them in the tank just doesn't seem like it's going to work out well.

 

Yea I just leave them in the main tank. I’ve had 3 survive out of maybe 100 doing this. I used to breed gorgeous tiger/panda platys but you will need a whole setup if you plan to keep and raise all the fry platys produce.

Good news is fry that are born and survive into your tank and water will be extremely hardy. Very very healthy.

Bad news is unless you want to set up a whole other tank, you can’t save them all, livebearers breed constantly it’s ridiculous...I think platys and guppies conspire to take over the fish world.