When to add pregnant platy to breeding box?

So I bought a breeder box today for my golden mickey mouse platy. I know she is pregnant, but I don't want her put her in it for longer than she needs to be. When should I add her?


She's the clearer one on top.

 

I personally wouldn't put her in the breeder box at all..it can cause a lot of stress and if she's put in too early she can abort the fry. I just had a platy give birth in my tank Thursday night and I managed to collect 22fry. I have some plants but not a ton and they were going down into my gravel since it's a little bigger than the normal "fish tank gravel". I have another female that will probably be giving birth in the next 7-10 days and will do the same. I put the fry in the breeder box after I caught them and am going to keep them there for a few days to let them get a little stronger. They started to eat tonight so I may move them to my fry tank tomorrow night or Monday night.

 

I personally wouldn't put her in the breeder box at all..it can cause a lot of stress and if she's put in too early she can abort the fry. I just had a platy give birth in my tank Thursday night and I managed to collect 22fry. I have some plants but not a ton and they were going down into my gravel since it's a little bigger than the normal "fish tank gravel". I have another female that will probably be giving birth in the next 7-10 days and will do the same. I put the fry in the breeder box after I caught them and am going to keep them there for a few days to let them get a little stronger. They started to eat tonight so I may move them to my fry tank tomorrow night or Monday night.

I have some floater plant and java fern, but the problem is that I have three other platies besides and two more gourami. I know that the gourami are definitely going to go after them. That's my main concern. How much longer do you think my platy has until she gives birth. This is her first time giving birth (at least in my care).

 

I have 4 platys and 4 guppys and still managed to get 22 out. I'm not really sure with how much longer, this was my first experience with it too. I did notice in the 2-ish days leading up to her giving birth, she looked very square head on, but her belly from the side view went from looking like a balloon to elongated from front to back..if that description makes sense...she still ate well even while she was giving birth but I noticed a few days before she was hiding in the floating plants more than usual (she sleeps in there at night but is out all day) . I tried to give the tank 2 smaller meals a day around when I thought she was going to have them hoping they would stay full and not try and eat them. I did notice all my fry went right down to the bottom of the tank to hide and not to the surface in the floating plants...

 

I have 4 platys and 4 guppys and still managed to get 22 out. I'm not really sure with how much longer, this was my first experience with it too. I did notice in the 2-ish days leading up to her giving birth, she looked very square head on, but her belly from the side view went from looking like a balloon to elongated from front to back..if that description makes sense...she still ate well even while she was giving birth but I noticed a few days before she was hiding in the floating plants more than usual (she sleeps in there at night but is out all day) . I tried to give the tank 2 smaller meals a day around when I thought she was going to have them hoping they would stay full and not try and eat them. I did notice all my fry went right down to the bottom of the tank to hide and not to the surface in the floating plants...

Ok! I'll try to look for that boxed off look. She isn't that big yet and the males are following her. Thanks!

 

Mine didn't get nearly as big as I've seen other females in pictures and videos I saw while researching..it's it's her first batch, they don't always get big. my male loves his ladies and always follows them around, switching back and forth between them (I have a 3rd female, but she seems to pretty young still, she's about half their size so he doesn't bother her yet). He was going crazy with the female that was giving birth and trying to mate with her and not leaving her side while she was she was having them.

 

Mine didn't get nearly as big as I've seen other females in pictures and videos I saw while researching..it's it's her first batch, they don't always get big. my male loves his ladies and always follows them around, switching back and forth between them (I have a 3rd female, but she seems to pretty young still, she's about half their size so he doesn't bother her yet). He was going crazy with the female that was giving birth and trying to mate with her and not leaving her side while she was she was having them.

I keep researching videos about it and they all look huge! Then I read that when they get that big they usually have about 40 babies. I think on their first pregnancy they're only supposed to have like 10, right? I think I'll wait two weeks, and if she doesn't have the fry and only gets bigger, then I'll put her in the breeder box. Other than that, I don't think there's a point because I'll probably be stressing her out.

 

I don't put my platy in breeder boxes or separate fry. Platy fry are difficult to sell and even to give away sometimes. In three months, two batches of fry have had 8 survivors. If you're raising for feeders or have a place to sell or donate then separating to a different tank will be much less stressful than putting her in a tiny little breeder box. Adding plenty of plants, moss and small hiding areas will keep the majority of the fry safe until you can remove the mother from the tank and put her back with the others.

 

I use a to gallon breeder tank with lots of low hiding places for fry. Every fish I put in the breeding box died after 24 hours so I never used it since then.

Gestation period is on average 28 days and a day or 2 before they get boxy shaped. I my experience they don't always get huge but there is a definite square look to the fishes belly before they drop their fry.

 

Ok! I'll keep watching her until they square off. Thanks!

FishFish221 Sorry I have to tag you because you have helped me a lot before. It's been a while and my platy still hasn't had any fry. I've had her for about a month now, but I thought that they give birth every 28 days? She's gotten a little bigger but isn't acting timid and isn't boxed shaped. I can see the little fry developing because she's a blond platy. Am I doing something wrong? I haven't decided to use the breeder box yet. No need to stress her out more if it doesn't even matter.

 

They give birth every 4-4.5 weeks. Some give birth to the whole batch at once, some give birth to a few at a time for a week or two. The fry might have been eaten before you were able to find them, especially if you have other larger fish with the platy, such as your gouramis.

 

They give birth every 4-4.5 weeks. Some give birth to the whole batch at once, some give birth to a few at a time for a week or two. The fry might have been eaten before you were able to find them, especially if you have other larger fish with the platy, such as your gouramis.

The only thing is that she never boxed up. I thought they were supposed to do that around a day before. Here are some pics. Do you think she gave birth before I could get to the fry? Sorry the second pic is so big. Tell me if I need better pics. She looks smaller in the pics.

 

They are always boxed up. She could also give birth any day now, likely in less than a week. Its really hard to tell if she gave birth or not in the past few days since she's carrying about 20-30 fry, and missing a few won't really make a difference, but it is likely that she did.

 

They are always boxed up. She could also give birth any day now, likely in less than a week. Its really hard to tell if she gave birth or not in the past few days since she's carrying about 20-30 fry, and missing a few won't really make a difference, but it is likely that she did.

What do you recommend I do? I know my fish will eat the fry if I can't get them out fast enough. I wanted to wait until her belly changed shape and then put her in the breeder box, so I could get as many fry as I could. I know it's supposed to be stressful, but I don't know what else to do, because my fish will most likely eat them either way. I planned on leaving them in the breeder box for maybe about a week, and then move them to an unused 2.5 gallon tank, which I will set up with an air pump and sponge filter. Does it sound like a good plan? What would you do in my situation?

 

They can hold fry when stressed out, and even die holding the fry, it's why a lot of people don't do the breeder box. She may be holding the fry. 2.5 gallons seems awfully small to me to raise fry in.

 

They can hold fry when stressed out, and even die holding the fry, it's why a lot of people don't do the breeder box. She may be holding the fry. 2.5 gallons seems awfully small to me to raise fry in.

I haven't put her in the breeder box. That's exactly what I was worried about. What do you suggest I do?

 

I haven't put her in the breeder box. That's exactly what I was worried about. What do you suggest I do?

Personally I would leave her in the main tank, then save as many fry when you can, but I would use at least a ten gallon tank if you want to grow out the fry.

 

Personally I would leave her in the main tank, then save as many fry when you can, but I would use at least a ten gallon tank if you want to grow out the fry.

I'm just worried that the gouramis are going to eat them and I won't get a chance at saving them. Even if she gives birth during the day, I go to school. I planned on keeping them for a month or so and then give them to my LFS. Even if they don't take them, there are many fish stores in my area. I have the wrong ratio of males to females anyways, so I'm going to turn one or two in for females.

 

I'm just worried that the gouramis are going to eat them and I won't get a chance at saving them. Even if she gives birth during the day, I go to school. I planned on keeping them for a month or so and then give them to my LFS. Even if they don't take them, there are many fish stores in my area. I have the wrong ratio of males to females anyways, so I'm going to turn one or two in for females.

Most likely yes your gourmI will eat some, do you have a lot of coverage for the fry to hide in when born? If you want to only breed the platys then I would suggest not having them in a community tank. Most breeders don't have what they are breeding in community tanks because the other fish will eat the fry. Not to mention the platys themselves will eat their own fry, so in general what a lot of breeders do is have a separate grow out tank as well as a breeding tank.

 

Most likely yes your gourmI will eat some, do you have a lot of coverage for the fry to hide in when born? If you want to only breed the platys then I would suggest not having them in a community tank. Most breeders don't have what they are breeding in community tanks because the other fish will eat the fry. Not to mention the platys themselves will eat their own fry, so in general what a lot of breeders do is have a separate grow out tank as well as a breeding tank.

For the fry, I have some java fern and rotala rotalifundia. But, I tried to anchor the rotala down, so only a part of it floats to the surface now. I know my community tank really isn't ideal for breeding, but I planned on taking them out once they were born so that they would grow a little before I gave them away. I don't know if this will be a long term thing, it mostly likely won't. As for a breeding tank, what size would work? I'm a teen, so I can't get anything too expensive or big. I thought the 2.5 tank (small, I know) would work until they were big enough to be given away. How long would you say the fry could stay in there? If I do use the breeder box, how long do you think I can leave her in there? Two days maybe? I don't want to leave her in for that long, but I was waiting for the signs of imminent birth and that hasn't happened yet. Do you think I could put her in there like tonight, and take her out in the morning and see if anything has happened? If she is supposedly having a few every day for maybe a week, could it be happening at night? Do you think by the pics that she is pregnant enough? I can see the eyes and bodies of the fry inside her.

 

I didn't have money for s bigger tank either right now, so they spent the first 2 weeks in a 2 gallon tank, then I went to Walmart and got a clear Rubbermaid tote, I think it's about 10 gallons, made a few holes in the lid for my sponge filter tubing and heater plug and just put the fry in last night..it was $5.

 

I didn't have money for s bigger tank either right now, so they spent the first 2 weeks in a 2 gallon tank, then I went to Walmart and got a clear Rubbermaid tote, I think it's about 10 gallons, made a few holes in the lid for my sponge filter tubing and heater plug and just put the fry in last night..it was $5.

Sounds great! What do you think I should do with my platy now? I don't think the fry will survive in my community tank if I just keep them in there. Should I use the breeder box tonight? I just bought it and I haven't even used it yet.

 

I think what Lcarr727 up there suggested with the rubbermaid tote is a great ideal to try.

As I said earlier I wouldn't do a breeder box at all, not even just a couple days. Moving her around a lot between the breeder and main tank can also stress her out. There really isn't a way to tell when exactly she will give birth so I can't tell you the exact day, much less the time of day. It's nature, whenever it happens it happens.

 

I think what Lcarr727 up there suggested with the rubbermaid tote is a great ideal to try.

As I said earlier I wouldn't do a breeder box at all, not even just a couple days. Moving her around a lot between the breeder and main tank can also stress her out. There really isn't a way to tell when exactly she will give birth so I can't tell you the exact day, much less the time of day. It's nature, whenever it happens it happens.

Ok thank you! I'll fix that then. I checked my plants and couldn't see any fry in there. The breeder box would have gone in the community tank though. I'll figure something out. Thanks.

 

Sounds great! What do you think I should do with my platy now? I don't think the fry will survive in my community tank if I just keep them in there. Should I use the breeder box tonight? I just bought it and I haven't even used it yet.

I wasn't home when my 2nd female gave birth on Monday and still managed to get 11 fry. My platy fry don't go to the surface, they all hide in the gravel.

 

I wasn't home when my 2nd female gave birth on Monday and still managed to get 11 fry. My platy fry don't go to the surface, they all hide in the gravel.

If I find any, do you think that I could put them in the breeder box (without the divider) so that they could grow a little more? So sorry for all the questions, I'm trying to do the best I can because this is my first time with fry and I'm nervous/excited.

 

If I find any, do you think that I could put them in the breeder box (without the divider) so that they could grow a little more? So sorry for all the questions, I'm trying to do the best I can because this is my first time with fry and I'm nervous/excited.

So I put the 3 day old fry in with the 2 week old fry and there is not much of a size difference, like hardly any...apparently they are slow growers...they only way I can really tell them apart is the 2 week olds have more black on their tails and their dorsal fins have turned black too (both parents are red wagtails)

This was all new to me 2 weeks ago too...I completely understand you..my husband thought I was going crazy because I was constantly checking the tank for fry and I would think about to at work all day (I work 12 hour shifts) and one of the first things I would do when I got home was check the tank..the dogs would get mad because I would go to,the fish before letting them out of their crates lol

 

So I put the 3 day old fry in with the 2 week old fry and there is not much of a size difference, like hardly any...apparently they are slow growers...they only way I can really tell them apart is the 2 week olds have more black on their tails and their dorsal fins have turned black too (both parents are red wagtails)

Wow ok! I guess you can really tell the difference by their color!

This was all new to me 2 weeks ago too...I completely understand you..my husband thought I was going crazy because I was constantly checking the tank for fry and I would think about to at work all day (I work 12 hour shifts) and one of the first things I would do when I got home was check the tank..the dogs would get mad because I would go to,the fish before letting them out of their crates lol

Lol that's funny! I wish I could have a dog or a cat but my parents are allergic. I volunteer at shelters though. I'll keep checking but I'm thinking that I'm making this too complicated

I think I'm going to wait like one or two more weeks and see if there's any change. I just wasn't sure before if I was doing anything wrong before because she only got slightly bigger and I had heard that they were supposed to give birth monthly. She's much smaller than the platies that you see on youtube or the platy fishlore profile video giving birth. I'll keep posting if there's any changes or updates, but in the meanwhile, I'll just keep looking to see if there are any more changes. Since I have the wrong ratio of male to female platies, I'm going to switch out a male for a female so I can put less stress on the female right now. Thanks for your help!

 

No problem! I have 1 female that's almost half the size of the other two. The mother of the 2 week old fry I've had for almost 8 weeks before she had her first batch for me..never even looked pregnant. She came from a tank with males and has been in a tank with a male from the day she came home... maybe we just have ladies who want to not rush becoming moms...lol..unlike my other female who was pregnant when I got her and has had 2 batches for me and I've only had her 6 weeks...

 

No problem! I have 1 female that's almost half the size of the other two. The mother of the 2 week old fry I've had for almost 8 weeks before she had her first batch for me..never even looked pregnant. She came from a tank with males and has been in a tank with a male from the day she came home... maybe we just have ladies who want to not rush becoming moms...lol..unlike my other female who was pregnant when I got her and has had 2 batches for me and I've only had her 6 weeks...

Lol! Sounds like you have lots of fry! I hope being in school won't lessen my chances of getting the fry before they get eaten or something. But thanks again! I'll keep waiting and checking my tank carefully for the next couple weeks. I don't plan to use the breeder box unless she gets huge and boxy (which I guess is unlikely). Sounds like that is the best thing to do at this point!

 

Lol! Sounds like you have lots of fry! I hope being in school won't lessen my chances of getting the fry before they get eaten or something. But thanks again! I'll keep waiting and checking my tank carefully for the next couple weeks. I don't plan to use the breeder box unless she gets huge and boxy (which I guess is unlikely). Sounds like that is the best thing to do at this point!

Good luck! You may have to a trial and error for this batch, then you will know what she looks/act like just before giving and how the fry hide for when she has her next batch. That's what I did..I wasn't prepared for the first batch, was only able to fine catch 2. I made adjustments to my tank and was a lot more prepared this time around.

 

Good luck! You may have to a trial and error for this batch, then you will know what she looks/act like just before giving and how the fry hide for when she has her next batch. That's what I did..I wasn't prepared for the first batch, was only able to fine catch 2. I made adjustments to my tank and was a lot more prepared this time around.

Thanks! I plan on doing that. Today she acts the same, but may be a little more boxy shaped. She still moves around pretty quickly, and I don't think she is breathing very quickly.

Lcarr727 actually I just noticed that her cloaca is big. I believe that is the right term for the part where the fry come out. I can't tell if this is normal because the males all have the special analfin. Is this normal?

Here are some pics. I tried to crop one so you could see it more easily.

 

She will probably have them in the next few days, my girls would look like that within 2-3 days of having them

 

She will probably have them in the next few days, my girls would look like that within 2-3 days of having them

Thanks!

Ok so I know I'm not supposed to use the breeder box but I was wondering how long I could use it for before my fish would get too stressed. I have school tomorrow and I'm not going to be able to watch her. My parents can check every once in a while though. Does this work? Also, I know they're supposed to give birth overnight, so can I leave her in there overnight? I don't know how long they can last in it. I don't really see leaving her in the community tank as an option because I have yet to upgrade my 2 DG's and I also have 3 more platies. I know, bad stocking, I need to fix it. But until then, WWYD? I can leave some of my rotala rotalifundia floating? It's pretty tied down but I can untie it a little.

 

Ok so I know I'm not supposed to use the breeder box but I was wondering how long I could use it for before my fish would get too stressed. I have school tomorrow and I'm not going to be able to watch her. My parents can check every once in a while though. Does this work? Also, I know they're supposed to give birth overnight, so can I leave her in there overnight? I don't know how long they can last in it. I don't really see leaving her in the community tank as an option because I have yet to upgrade my 2 DG's and I also have 3 more platies. I know, bad stocking, I need to fix it. But until then, WWYD? I can leave some of my rotala rotalifundia floating? It's pretty tied down but I can untie it a little.

If you really want to put her in there, I would try her in the breeder box while your home to see if she gets stressed. Both my girls gave birth during the day, but I've read they usually do it at night.

 

If you really want to put her in there, I would try her in the breeder box while your home to see if she gets stressed. Both my girls gave birth during the day, but I've read they usually do it at night.

Ok. Sorry for all the repetitive questions

Update: No fry yet. She looks and acts the same. I haven't done anything with the breeder box.

UPDATE: She's is more deflated now. The males are chasing her constantly. Did I miss the fry? I looked around the tank but I couldn't find anything.
FishFish221 and Lcarr727 what do you think? Did I miss the fry

She's breathing heavily. Not sure if it's because I was trying to get her with a net (I stopped, no point in the breeder box now at this point) or because the males are now chasing her. What should I do now? I can get a setup (Rubbermaid tote, sponge filter etc.) over the weekend, and I will try to replace one of the males with a female, but what should I do now?

 

Just check on the female and nothing is going wrong (female always hiding etc.). Also make sure the male isn't harassing her too much (I lost a female platy this way), and the female has somewhere to stay away from the male.

 

Just check on the female and nothing is going wrong (female always hiding etc.). Also make sure the male isn't harassing her too much (I lost a female platy this way), and the female has somewhere to stay away from the male.

Female is still being chased by 2 males. Should I put her in the breeder box? She looked a little panicked when I put her in so I immediately took her out. I have an unused 2.5 gallon that I could set up. How long can she last without a filter? I would need to get that. I also have a little divider that I made out of a binder. Should I use that and isolate her for a while?

Just check on the female and nothing is going wrong (female always hiding etc.). Also make sure the male isn't harassing her too much (I lost a female platy this way), and the female has somewhere to stay away from the male.

I can take the fry divider out of the breeder box. Will that work?

 

I would remove the female from the situation. How many males and females do you have?

 

I would remove the female from the situation. How many males and females do you have?

3 males 1 female. I know,completely wrong ratio. I plan on replacing 1 or 2 males for females during the weekend. I'm definitely trying to fix that problem. Do you recommend using the divider until then? She'll be in the same tank but the other fish won't be able to get to her side.