Breeding platys

[AquaBANG]

I have about 5 platys - 4 females and 1 male in my 20G tank with some barbs, tetras and mollies. I got them when they were about half inch long, now the females are about 2 inches and the male is an inch. But I have not yet seen any fry. Is it possible that the platys have not bred at all, or its just that they other fishes made a quick snack of all the fry that have come out?

I have been having them for over a year and half now.

[mitcore]

have you seen the male chasing the females and going up close to them, if so then yes they are breeding a platty can stay preg for a long time up to a month as far as i know. though i may be wrong on the time span,

[AquaBANG]

yes, I have observed the mating rituals a lot of times. And more importantly my female platys always seem to stay huge and round tummied. Thats why I am curious...

[mitcore]

do they have a black dot on the back of them (at the back of the tummy just before the fin) if yes then they are preg

[AquaBANG]

will check today and update the thread.

[Sasquatch]

It's very probably that the other fish are eating the fry before you see them. If you want to keep them, try to find breeder boxes. They're little compartments with 2 floors. The first has slots in it for the fry to swim through and seperate them from the females, the second is solid so it'll hold water and you can transfer the fry to another aquarium.

[kkevvy]

It's very probably that the other fish are eating the fry before you see them.

I wouldn't say thats the case. I had 3 gouramis, platys, etc, and my platys gave birth numerous times, and I only lost about 5 max from each litter. And I never put them in breeder nets. But my tank is also heavily planted.

I would suggest making sure theres plenty of cover for the fry. Java moss, and floating plants, work especially well. Platys can hold sperm for a very a long time, so they can gestate only when they feel comfortable.

Tell us a little more about your tank. Is there plants, real or fake? driftwood? other cover? etc etc.

[AquaBANG]

I have a couple of blooming swords and a banana plant. substrate is white sand and have a lot of rounded small rocks. No driftwood. fairly good hiding places.

[kkevvy]

yeah that should be good.

Maybe you should get a new male and female to add to them? The males should'nt be aggressive with eachother.

[AquaBANG]

well I moved a ripe platy female and a small male to my 30G and sure enough in a couple days I am filled with Platy fry. So its just a case that in my 20G with tetras and barbs the platy fry had no chance and were a quick snack.