JoeCamaro
Member
Weird question, heh?
I have 3 female platies in my 46 gallon community tank. One of them I bought pregnant about a year and a half ago, the other one is her daughter, born in my tanks and the 3rd one was given to me when she was a fry. The first one hasn't been in contact with a male since I got her and her daughter and the 3rd one haven't been in contact with males since they were old enough to sex them and separate from their brothers (over a year ago).
However mom and daughter seem to be full of eggs regularly. I can tell because they are yellow and I can see the eggs. The 3rd one is red and although she looks fat, I can't see the eggs if she has them.
The only other livebearer in that tank is a male guppy and although he chases them all the time, I know they can't crossbreed.
Now, do female livebearers develop and discard eggs regularly or do they need a male to start the process at all? Or is the courtship from the guppy making them "get ready" even if the can't mate?
I'm guessing female livebearers develop eggs that may be discarded or reabsorbed if not fertilized.
Today I saw the daughter platy very big and her gravid spot was dark, unlike usual when I can see clear eggs which seemed odd to me.
I'm not expecting platy/guppy hybryds, as I said, I know these species do not crossbreed. I just want to know about livebearer egg development.
Thanks!
Joe
I have 3 female platies in my 46 gallon community tank. One of them I bought pregnant about a year and a half ago, the other one is her daughter, born in my tanks and the 3rd one was given to me when she was a fry. The first one hasn't been in contact with a male since I got her and her daughter and the 3rd one haven't been in contact with males since they were old enough to sex them and separate from their brothers (over a year ago).
However mom and daughter seem to be full of eggs regularly. I can tell because they are yellow and I can see the eggs. The 3rd one is red and although she looks fat, I can't see the eggs if she has them.
The only other livebearer in that tank is a male guppy and although he chases them all the time, I know they can't crossbreed.
Now, do female livebearers develop and discard eggs regularly or do they need a male to start the process at all? Or is the courtship from the guppy making them "get ready" even if the can't mate?
I'm guessing female livebearers develop eggs that may be discarded or reabsorbed if not fertilized.
Today I saw the daughter platy very big and her gravid spot was dark, unlike usual when I can see clear eggs which seemed odd to me.
I'm not expecting platy/guppy hybryds, as I said, I know these species do not crossbreed. I just want to know about livebearer egg development.
Thanks!
Joe