Preggo platy and breeding box

pat72chevy · 12-24-2008, 12:55 PM

Hello everyone,

Ok, so I have a preggo platy that I think will probably birth in a few days. My question is when should I put her in the floating breeding box? Also, once she has the babies, should I just keep them in the floating box till they are big enough to be released in the community tank? Any help will be appreciated.

Helena21 · 12-24-2008, 01:08 PM

You should really just leave her in the main tank to give birth. You can put loads of plants and things in for the fry to hide in once they are born. Those breeding boxes arent great for the fish and they really stress them out. Once you notice fry you can net them out and put them in the breeding box for a while, but they would do better in their own tank really.
Good luck

pat72chevy · 12-24-2008, 01:30 PM

Well, I have a 55 gallon main tank that is pretty well stocked. I have had 2 other platys give birth and non eof them have made it. It is well planted and they have MANY places to hide but it seems they dont make it past a couple of days. I have a spare 5 gallon tank that I have my betta in that I can put the mother in but I am afraid the betta will eat them as well. I would put the betta n the community tank but I have tiger barbs and they would tear him apart. Should I put her in the betta tank or should I use the plastic breeder box?

Helena21 · 12-24-2008, 04:15 PM

Uhhh well the betta will eat the fry too lol. OK well you could look for the signs of her about to give birth. She will breathe heavily, and hide somewhere. Sometimes they gulp air and stop eating. When you see this you can put her into the breeding box. Put a plant in there or something so she has some cover. If she doesnt give birth within 24hrs then take her out otherwise she will get too stressed

SdJaCK&SaLLy · 12-24-2008, 05:57 PM

You may also be able to see the babies inside of her "gravid" spot. Depending on what color she is.

bunker_1 · 12-27-2008, 12:23 PM

I use the breeding box. But I usually have a tank set up for fry. My breeing box has slits in the bottom of it so the fry just drop into the fry tank. You do not want to introduce the fry into the community tank untill they are larger that the biggest mouth in the tank.
If your tank is already pretty well stocked, will you have room for the fry once they are full grown?

12-24-2008, 12:55 PM	#1
pat72chevy Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 17	Preggo platy and breeding box Hello everyone, Ok, so I have a preggo platy that I think will probably birth in a few days. My question is when should I put her in the floating breeding box? Also, once she has the babies, should I just keep them in the floating box till they are big enough to be released in the community tank? Any help will be appreciated.

12-24-2008, 01:08 PM	#2
Helena21 Super Fish Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Essex, England Posts: 1,836	You should really just leave her in the main tank to give birth. You can put loads of plants and things in for the fry to hide in once they are born. Those breeding boxes arent great for the fish and they really stress them out. Once you notice fry you can net them out and put them in the breeding box for a while, but they would do better in their own tank really. Good luck __________________ 35 GAL - 1 Angelfish, 4 platies, 2 baby bristlenose plecs

12-24-2008, 04:15 PM	#4
Helena21 Super Fish Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Essex, England Posts: 1,836	Uhhh well the betta will eat the fry too lol. OK well you could look for the signs of her about to give birth. She will breathe heavily, and hide somewhere. Sometimes they gulp air and stop eating. When you see this you can put her into the breeding box. Put a plant in there or something so she has some cover. If she doesnt give birth within 24hrs then take her out otherwise she will get too stressed __________________ 35 GAL - 1 Angelfish, 4 platies, 2 baby bristlenose plecs

12-27-2008, 12:23 PM	#6
bunker_1 Medium Fish Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 584	I use the breeding box. But I usually have a tank set up for fry. My breeing box has slits in the bottom of it so the fry just drop into the fry tank. You do not want to introduce the fry into the community tank untill they are larger that the biggest mouth in the tank. If your tank is already pretty well stocked, will you have room for the fry once they are full grown? __________________ Trying to breed GBR (standard and high fin), Discus, Angels, and currently breeding 6 types of guppies, 5 types of swords, 2 types of mollies, and RCS.

12-24-2008, 01:30 PM	#3
pat72chevy Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 17	Well, I have a 55 gallon main tank that is pretty well stocked. I have had 2 other platys give birth and non eof them have made it. It is well planted and they have MANY places to hide but it seems they dont make it past a couple of days. I have a spare 5 gallon tank that I have my betta in that I can put the mother in but I am afraid the betta will eat them as well. I would put the betta n the community tank but I have tiger barbs and they would tear him apart. Should I put her in the betta tank or should I use the plastic breeder box?

12-24-2008, 05:57 PM	#5
SdJaCK&SaLLy Little Fish Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Warner Robins Georgia Posts: 151	You may also be able to see the babies inside of her "gravid" spot. Depending on what color she is.