20 Gallon Tank Why aren't my platy's breeding/ having no babies

Hi all,
I have a 20 gallon tank with 2 platys (1 male 1 female each were bought 5 months ago), 4 gold skirt tetras (had for 2.5 years), a lucky bamboo stick for the past year, 3 plastic plants. Temp is 26 degrees Celsius.

I've seen my female platy get big a couple times but never seen any fry. Is there anything I should do? I am on trading the tetras for smaller fish

 

It is possible they all got ate before you could see any of them, especially if she didn't have very many. Doubly because it sounds like they don't have a lot in terms of places to hide.

 

If I trade my tetras for platys or guppies would it be alright or would I have to get lots of plants?

It is possible they all got ate before you could see any of them, especially if she didn't have very many. Doubly because it sounds like they don't have a lot in terms of places to hide.

 

If I trade my tetras for platys or guppies would it be alright or would I have to get lots of plants?

Hiding spots would be better, but you could add a couple more female platies as well, so the male has a couple more ladies to chase around and not stress the lone female out so much!


This is our platy tank. Those little bush things by the cave are a great place for the fry to hide in.

 

Hiding spots would be better, but you could add a couple more female platies as well, so the male has a couple more ladies to chase around and not stress the lone female out so much!
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This is our platy tank. Those little bush things by the cave are a great place for the fry to hide in.

Is there such a thing as too much plants. I know there can be too much fish but I don't know about plants

 

The key to keeping livebearer fry safe from tank mates is floating cover. This tank has a male betta, small species of rainbow fish, and female guppies, all of which will eat a newborn fry. That big mass of floating hornwort is saving the fry and I recently noticed several little new ones hiding and feeding in it. They seem to be growing too!

 

Is there such a thing as too much plants. I know there can be too much fish but I don't know about plants

I'll sen

Is there such a thing as too much plants. I know there can be too much fish but I don't know about plants

Here is my tank

 

Hi all,
I have a 20 gallon tank with 2 platys (1 male 1 female each were bought 5 months ago), 4 gold skirt tetras (had for 2.5 years), a lucky bamboo stick for the past year, 3 plastic plants. Temp is 26 degrees Celsius.

I've seen my female platy get big a couple times but never seen any fry. Is there anything I should do? I am on trading the tetras for smaller fish

It's recommended that you have at least 3 females per 1 male, so relieve stress from the females and increase production in platy fry.

But, to answer your question: your female probably has delivery fry before, maybe you just haven't seen any. I have had this happen multiple times, especially when your tank is heavily decorated or planted. I would find the fry days or weeks later by luck, still alive and thriving.

 

Not nearly enough cover to allow fry to hide from the adults. When livebearers give birth often times the fry will instinctively head towards the surface, this is why floating plants are recommended. I’d also cover the filter intake tube with a sponge to keep fry from getting sucked up.

Getting more females is a good idea, just remember that once you have a steady breeding colony you can easily become overrun with fry.

 

What floating pants would you recommend that's is relatively cheap.

 

What floating pants would you recommend that's is relatively cheap.

When I had guppies, I had java moss and Amazon frogbit. Java moss is probably your best option here.

 

Hornwort also floats if it's allowed to; in some tanks it thrives, in others it just sheds and dies. See if you can find a few stems locally and try it out!

 

Hornwort also floats if it's allowed to; in some tanks it thrives, in others it just sheds and dies. See if you can find a few stems locally and try it out!

I'm planning on getting I but how would it die. Like why would it shed and die. I'm planning on planting 1 stalk in the gravel, while 1 floating around

 

I'm planning on getting I but how would it die. Like why would it shed and die. I'm planning on planting 1 stalk in the gravel, while 1 floating around

From what I've observed, it might have something to do with nutrition/fertilization. I couldn't keep it alive in my meticulously maintained tank before I used to use fertilizer, and I dropped a nearly-dead stem into the dirty goldfish tank at work, where it absolutely thrives. I think it's maybe a question of available nitrates, but I never did any testing to confirm it.