Questions About My Pregnant Platy...

Hello everyone. I have some questions about my pregnant platy. First off... I have absolutely no idea when she became prego. I got her and another Platy(which I found out is a male) from the SAME tank at PetSmart on March 7th. Soooooo.... she may have been pregnant when I got her since there where about 100 mixed sexed fish in this same tank.

I cycled my 6 gallon tank for 4 days and moved the mommy platy in it last night. I hope I didn't tramatize her too much while moving her in there. She kind of just hung out on the top of the water and was really still. She looked a little sad. ( And her playmate (male platy) was going crazy in the other tank. This was probably not the right thing to do but I moved him over too a few hours later cuz I hated spliting them up. I thought maybe he could help getting her adjusted and then I could move him back. After putting him in there with her she became her normal self and the are swimming around together as usual. She looks happy and adjusted this morning.

I noticed lately in the last 4-5 days that she has some little tiny dark color spots on her back that she did not have before. (see pictures) Not sure if this is a sign that the time is coming? Also her fins seam to be standing up more than the norm.

I did put some medium from the community tanks filter in the new fry tank as it cycled for a few days and also some StressCoat and StressZyme. The tank temperature is exactly the same as the other tank 77-78 degrees. I am using the Eclipse filter that the tank came with... but I have a Lustar Hydro sponge filter that should be here today. I know it is prefered that the sponge filter be cycled for a few weeks in the old tank to build up the good bacteria. What should I do? Should I put it in the old community tank and let it go till I see that she is super close to having the babies? I am not even sure if I will know when she is about ready to have them. Or should I go ahead and let it run in the new fry tank with the other filter going as well until the time comes??? Also... since this tank is newly cycled... should I do a 25% water change each day. I have a Mardel Live Meter in there thinking it would track the ammonia levels for me but it is not showing anything at all.... maybe because it is a newly cycled tank???? Should I get some test strips?

I have added lots and lots floor covering for the baby fry to hang out in and also if she has them at night before I get a chance to move her back to the other tank. I also added a bunch of fry grass in the old tank in case I move her too soon and she wasn't done yet.

I bought fry food for the babies. How many times a day should I be feeding the Mommy Platy right now?

So... if anyone could let me know about the sponge filter, water changes, ammonia, feedings and signs that the fry will be here REALLY SOON, etc etc and whatever else I am overlooking.

Thanks so much for everyones help. You all are a real life saver because I really don't know what i'm doing....

 

WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

Candee, I don't have any experience with the Eclipse filter, what kind of intake does it have? Can you find a clean sponge, poke a hole in it and place it over the intake...OR a net...Often you can find these type of things at the pet store, that you can adapt.....anything to keep the fry from getting sucked up.....

You can use the sponge filter in the community tank and place it over after the fry are born, but if you are covering the Eclipse filter also, you could run both....I feel the more filtration the better....

Continue to do water changes, again, cover the syphon tube with netting to keep from sucking the fry up.

Don't stress out too much about the fry, if you have lots of cover for them, they should be ok....leave mom in the tank for a few hours to make sure she has had them all.

Feed her just twice a day, but after the babies are born, they need to start off with 4 small feedings a day.....I use chrushed flakes and frozen baby brine shrimp....they won't eat it all which means more water changes....the fry need really clean water, and starting off with an uncycled tank means you have to keep on top of this....

Have fun, don't stress....it sounds like you have a good start here.

 

Would nylon or panty hose work? I could put it over and use a rubberband to hold it up there. I went to PetSmart and PetCo and neither of them had any sponge type filters in stock... that's why I ordered on off ebay. It got here today and I am setting it up in my established tank right now. Did you see my pics? She is prego right? Not just fat???

Thank you for your help!

 

Panty hose should work, IF it lets enough water through.

I found a woven sack, designed for media....that is what I use over my syphon....the sponge was for some other filter...It was just the right size, and I adapted it....You can get creative.

Yes I would say she is pregnant...she will get much bigger, and take on a "square" look, and develop a black spot "gravid spot" before birth.

A site you can check out that should help answer questions.



The mesh bag and foam or sponge are like the ones described in the following links.





sponge CD-321144

Good Luck.

 

Looking at those mesh media bags just reminded me of these little mesh media bags I have that I have. I used to sell Italian Charms and those were the little gift bags. They look just like the small mesh bags in the picture. I will rinse one out really good and get it on there. Should I change it often or just leave it? As far as when she is due... I will just look for her to resemble a sugar cube I guess. We are going to disneyland on the 13th for 5 days and my sister is going to stay here and fish sit. I will be so bummed if I miss out on the action.

 

We've used a fish net netting over the intake filter tube.

 

Is there anyway to tell when the platy is going to have them.

 

Not precisely, but watch for her looking for a quiet spot in the tank and for her back end to get squarish. She'll be pretty close then.

 

I have to say I had 2 platies that looked just like that. Maybe this was just something that happened to me, but I sort of prefer just leaving the female in the regular tank. I think moving it causes lots of stress on the fish. I had both of the platies in a breeder box for a week, and 1 died and the other wouldn't breed until it got out, and then pretty soon died. So now what I do is just leave it and just check for a decrease in size or little fry swimming around. I have a mickey mouse platy that is looking pretty close to spawning. As for when it will happen, I still am not sure... but I hope this advice may help you...

 

Dropping fry is pretty stressful on livebearers and getting moved out of their familiar setting is too. We tried it once, but she wouldn't drop until we put her back in. Fortunately she made it through that drop but only 2 fry were alive.