A platy is normally pregnant for about 28 days after insemination. It says you want to have one, but it is not necessary. The male has been chasing around one of the females for a long time, and her belly looks bigger. Once the mother gives birth, you can expect to have 20-40 new fry on average. I assume they are dead, right? Read more for tips from our Veterinary reviewer on safely breeding platy fish! A Molly can give birth to many new young fish (10 – 60 at a time). How can I tell if my platy fish is pregnant? Aquarium Plath Fish is pregnant. Changing 25 percent of the water at least every two weeks is typically adequate. In addition, you’ll need to change 25 percent of their water every 2 to 4 weeks, or when the water becomes cloudy. ", in the fish tank. They will promptly breed if they feel their tank is safe and they have enough cover. Female Platy vs Male Platy Lifespan – Which Lives Longer? Many thanks.". Pregnant female platy can be easily identified by looking at the size of the belly, which begins to darken at the area right above the anal fin. If the water in the tank gets cloudy it may mean you are putting in too much food. A little over a week ago, I assumed that she gave birth because there were several new fry in my tank. I have 3 male platies, and am going to get 6 females so I can have some babies! Thanks! So, how do you know if your molly fish is pregnant (gravid) you ask? The gestation period typically lasts for around 28 days. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. With over 30 years of aquarium experience, Craig specializes in creating custom aquarium designs along with aquarium installation and service. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Learn the top 5 signs someone is lying to you. How long are they usually pregnant for? However, it is very common for the adult fish to eat the fry, so if you want many of them to survive, here are some actions you'll need to take to ensure this. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This is my first aquarium (10 gal) and I have no experience of … SUPER helpful. The darker it becomes, the closer she is to giving birth. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 238,941 times. Consistent with this definition, there are several modes of reproduction in fish, providing different amounts … By using our site, you agree to our. A pregnant platy fish starts to look very large, becoming almost square in appearance, and very swollen in the middle by the time it is ready to give birth. I started taking all the decor out and saw 40+ babies as the parents were hunting them, so we started to suck them into the cleaner hose while holding the net under the end. Pregnant platy. This is the average gestation period for platy fish. ", "This was very helpful. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. So essentially, she could give birth once a month for the next 4 months without a male. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. I believe both females are pregnant (they both have dark abdomens and are getting bigger), although one has gotten significantly fatter over the past few days. Fish & Aquarium Specialist. However, they can fertilize the eggs multiple times, because they store the sperm from the male for months. ", know what to do exactly, but I came here when my mollies got pregnant. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Good choices include bunch plants, such as anacharis and cabomba, floating plants like hornwort and water sprite, and mosses such as java moss. I already see that one of my platy is pregnant, and I am excited for the new little ones. The female has the eggs inside, but is simply holding them. They get along well with other species in community aquariums. % of people told us that this article helped them. Aquarium Doctor works with manufacturers and products such as Clear for Life, Sea Clear, Bubble Magus, Tropic Marine Centre, Salifert, ReeFlo, Little Giant, Coralife, and Kent Marine. There are no distinct behavioral changes to look out for. so you think she will give birth soon she has been pregnant for 3 weeks now. Both species are livebearers, similar to other fish of the family Poeciliidae, such as the guppy and molly.Platies are native to the east coast of … A pregnant platy will have a black or brown dot on the end of her stomach. Moving the female too early may cause her to miscarry due to stress, however, so make sure to wait until the appropriate time to move her. ", the help. Platy fish (Xiphophorus) are a common variety of fish that come in many different colors and are easy to care for. The mother will not be able to follow them. Platy fry are born more or less fully developed - they hatch from eggs inside their mothers' bodies - so they aren't difficult to care for. What should the water temperature be for baby platy fish? Feed the fry little and often, and crush the fish food between the fingers before sprinkling it in the tank. If you wrote down when you first noticed your platy fish was pregnant, the fry should be born about 24-30 days from that date. In fish like Goodeid livebearers, where there is a connection between the developing young and the mother (or in mammals like us), there are stages in pregnancy, but a platy isn't really pregnant. The reason is that the platy fish attain maturity at only 4 months of age and the female platy fish will keep reproducing for all its life as long as it is healthy. Scientifically known as Xiphophorus maculates, these orange and black platys also go by Mickey Mouse platy, southern platy and moonfish. This is long and round, but can also appear square, especially when she is about to give birth. The reason is that the platy fish attain maturity at only 4 months of age and the female platy fish will keep reproducing for all its life as long as it is healthy. If you have at least one male platy with her, then odds are very, very high that she is in fact pregnant. Help with babies and fry. Almost the same as the adults (76-82F), but a little bit on the warm side. [1] For platy fish to develop the brilliant colors that make them so beautiful, they must be fed a varied diet early in life, containing both protein and plant-based foods. amneris3 my redwag platy is shoing all thos signs and is hevily pregnant and is now squared and i have noticed the white dot on her butt i was worried it was ich. A breeding trap is a plastic box with small holes that goes inside a fish tank. Platy is a common name of freshwater fish in the genus Xiphophorus that lacks a "sword" at the bottom of their tails. how long are platys usually pregnant for? And now I have 6 heathy fry growing up. From “World News Tonight” to “The View,” Here’s How to Contact Your Favorite ABC TV Shows. You can combine them with older fish once they are full grown, which takes about 4 months. Research source A minimum tank size of 29 gallons is recommended if you plan on letting your fish reproduce not letting them eat their fry. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. In fish like Goodeid livebearers, where there is a connection between the developing young and the mother (or in mammals like us), there are stages in pregnancy, but a platy isn't really pregnant. She obviously came pregnant from the fish store, pregnant with another male fish's sperm. It takes for around 28 days for a platy fish to give birth. Once you notice that your platy's stomach has a \___/ shape, then you know she is due to give birth soon. How long before I have fry arrive and what is the best method to deal with this? Thank you! With every pregnancy cycle, a healthy molly female will birth anywhere from twenty (20) to 100 babies, and can continue breeding for between 2 (two) and 2.5 years; their average lifespan is 3 years. Although the term often refers to placental mammals, it has also been used in the titles of many international, peer-reviewed, scientific articles on fish, e.g. Platy reach full size after about four months. Breeding tanks aren’t strictly necessary. You don’t need to perform any special preparations, this will happen just if you have a male and female in the tank. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The female platy fish gives birth to live young rather than to eggs every three to four weeks when it is paired with a male. ... How to Spot a Pregnant Platy Fish. If it’s your first time keeping platies, you may have questions related to their lifespan: How long do platy fish live for? Or how long are they pregnant for? Hey 👋 I'm assuming my platys are pregnant, haven't been in the tank that long. Pregnancy has been traditionally defined as the period of time eggs are incubated in the body after egg-sperm union. Also, her belly will become very big and fat, and the shape of it will appear somewhat square. When a pregnant platy fish looks ready to give birth, move her into her own tank to protect her young from the male fish. There are over 325,000 known varieties of platy fish. Read more for tips from our Veterinary reviewer on safely breeding platy fish! In one batch only, the female platy fish can give birth to 8-20 and even 40 babies. To get the platy fish to mate, all you need to do is put them in the same aquarium. What Are the Signs of a Pregnant Platy Fish. Origin Like other live-bearing fish, she carries her fry until they are fully developed. It takes around 3 - 4 weeks for a platy fish to give birth. Her belly is still fairly large as well. In one batch only, the female platy fish can give birth to 8-20 and even 40 babies. Also, should I use a fry trap, a nursery tank or an aquarium divider to separate them? Those are both female fish. This is a great fish for beginning aquarists because of their ease of keeping and breeding. How long does it take for a platy fish to give birth? Keep close watch and feed them regularly. This article received 12 testimonials and 89% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. At first a, "It helped me find the right hiding spots. Platies aren't the easiest of fish to rehome, because they are so cheap to buy (both … Approved. This site gives me a lot of information, "I have a pretty big aquarium with about 25 mollies, 17 red wagon platys, and 13 comet goldfish. Platys tend to stress out when you put them into a breeding trap, so small, separate 10-liter tanks might be better prior to the births. A separate aquarium for your fry can be purchased at most pet stores. When the female is pregnant, she develops a lump below the abdomen for 20 to 40 days, indicating her pregnancy as the eggs are formed inside. Roughly 28 days. You can usually identify the dead ones because they will look like they are decomposing or falling apart (sorry for the graphics) but as long as they are all eating they will be fine. Like other live-bearing fish, she carries her fry until they are fully developed. as long as there are lots of hiding places for them. Wait 24-30 days for pregnant platy fish to give birth. I learned a lot of things!!! X Understanding Trustees' Duties and Responsibilities in Managing a Trust, Estate Planning 101: How to Probate a Will, The Differences Between “Defamation,” “Libel” and “Slander”. To find out if your fish is pregnant, watch it every day to see if any physiological changes occur. How long will it take for them to drop the fry? I got a sunburst platy and a red wag platy 4 days ago. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? To prevent overfeeding, adjust how much you feed them until they can finish each meal in 3 minutes. ", "Great article, great pictures. Craig Morton. Don't buy fish if you don't have an aquarium large enough to accommodate them. So they can become pregnant 4 times from a single mating. Then today her stomach was huge so I looked up what a pregnant platy looks like and she is for sure pregnant! They just wouldn't. I took some pictures and I am wondering if the platy is pregnant, and if so, what I should do about it. This is the same case with betta fish, who’s eggs generally hatch after 3 days. It's also common for a pregnant female to develop a dark spot near her back fin. I have a female platy fish who I presume is pregnant because she has the blackness in her stomach above her anal fin. Don't keep mother with their baby for long time.Otherwise if she gets hungry she can even eat their baby. A female platy fish differs from the male in its fan-shaped anal fin. I have 3 female platys which I got at the end of September. They are considered omnivorous fish, but prefer a herbivorous diet. I purchased 2 female and 1 male platys and they have been in it for about 4 days. Sometimes, this number can climb as high as 80. But now that I have just looked at her again, there it remains, the blackness in her belly. However, platy fish have been known to eat their own fry. What happens to her body depends a lot on how many eggs are fertilized in there. Platy fish are incredible freshwater fish that are uncomplicated and can be recommended for all skill levels. Make sure the water temp is correct. Breeder boxes stres out fish. Platies normally stay pregnant for roughly a month. Crush food pellets or flakes to make it easier for the fry to eat. Pregnant female platy can be easily identified by looking at the size of the belly, which begins to darken at the area right above the anal fin. You generally have between 24 and 30 days to make accommodations for your new fry once the mother shows signs of pregnancy. Pet stores keep both genders together and customers end up with pregnant fish. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. How do I take care of my baby platy fish and not have them die? I just noticed our fish had babies. The different varieties of platies display diverse colouration and patterns, and some even have fins of different shapes and sizes. A net breeder made of mesh is preferable to one made of plastic. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. Some of her fry were eaten, but apparently a few of the clever, healthy ones survived. Place it in the corner of the tank after the female has spawned and ensure the fry are the only fish inside the net. They will also hide, so they are not easy to spot. Thank you for, "I had 2 red wagon platys. Many (but probably not all) of your platy fry will survive in a community tank if it contains enough plants for them to hide in. Last Updated: September 21, 2020 They reach a maximum size of 2.5 inches and are classified as hardy fish. If you have any tips on helping me with angelfishes, I would like to hear them. When they are four months old, they are mature enough to reproduce. You wont be able to tell their pregnant for about 2 weeks and it takes them abou 4 weeks to have the fry (around 20 but can be over 50 at a time!) Platies are very prolific, so a a small tank can get over-crowded very quickly. The pregnant platy will behave pretty much the same as she does normally. A little over a week ago, I assumed that she gave birth because there were several new fry in my tank. Platies give birth every 3-4 weeks. Below are a few classic signs you molly will show. When a pregnant platy fish looks ready to give birth, move her into her own tank to protect her young from the male fish. Platy fish are not fussy eaters as long as you provide them with a diet which is high in vegetables. Platy become reproductive at the age of She's carrying eggs internally. ", "My Red Wag Platy is pregnant, and I had no idea how to care for mother and fry. There are many types of live plants that platies enjoy, which should be available at your local pet store. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. If she was already pregnant in walmart then i would say she would due in the week. 3-6 months. I was trying to breed them. Ps: The other platy in the pictures is the male. And how can I tell for sure? Specially formulated food is commercially available for platy fry, but is not necessary. The mother is placed inside the breeding trap, and when the fry are born, they can escape through the small holes to avoid being eaten. They are born about the size of half a grain of rice and and are transluscent. Platy are a prolific fish, so if you have both males and females, there is a strong possibility you will end up with babies (also known as fry). I fear one of them may be expecting, but it's been almost a month and no sign of babies. I have a male platy and 2 females in a 29 gallon tank. The gestation period typically lasts for around 28 days. This is caused by the eyes of the unborn fry pressing against her scales. Determine if a platy fish is pregnant by examining its size and shape. It then takes between 2-7 days before the goldfish eggs hatch. The pregnant platy will behave pretty much the same as she does normally. Then we ended up getting more than 30 and putting them with my other 12 babies. Usually, the gestation period lasts for 60 days. Why Is the Keystone XL Pipeline Still So Disputed? Thanks! How long is a platy fish pregnant for? Thanks! Having said that, the water chemistry and temperature in your tank may shorten or extend the pregnancy, and if they pregnant platy is heavily stressed out due to the water chemistry, incompatible tank mates, or similar reasons, she may terminate the pregnancy. Her belly is still fairly large as well. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Here is the link to the breeder box. This article was co-authored by Craig Morton. Platies are usually pregnant between 6 - 8 weeks. Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc. What is the size of platy fry at the time of birth? ", about breeding them and caring for the babies. I don't know if they mated after i got them or if they were already pregnant at the pet store. Plastic plants can be used, but live plants can often be a source of extra nutrition for your fish, who may take small bites of them to supplement their diets. Egg yolk, dry food, infusoria, and other specific newborn food can be fed to the fry until they mature. 21 July 2020. SUPER helpful. ", section. panicked because I didn't know what to do but this site helped me so much! Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Males of this species are significantly smaller than the females; males reaching up to 1 ½ inches and females 2 ½ inches. but know i know she has been sitting in the cave and the past couple of days has been swimming up and down the front right corrner. Pregnant platy will carry for approximately 30 days before giving birth to the fry. Platies can store ***** for up to 4 months. There are no distinct behavioral changes to look out for. The use of a net breeder also greatly increases the survival rate of the fry. In their natural habitat, they eat small crustaceans, worms, insects and plants. Expert Interview. A female platy would have the fin fully opened while for male platy, the fin is closed to become a long straight pointy fin called gonopodium, which is used to inseminate the female fish. Do I need a separate tank for the baby fish? http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=830+2855+1067&pcatid=1067, https://en.aqua-fish.net/articles/guide-keeping-platies-faq-discussion, http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/livebearers/platy.php, http://pets.thenest.com/baby-platy-like-hide-in-12511.html, http://www.allabout-aquariumfish.com/2009/03/platy-care-and-breeding.html, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Her belly will be swollen and rounder, and she will develop a black spot near her anal fin, called a 'gravid spot.' {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Take-Care-of-Baby-Platy-Fish-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Take-Care-of-Baby-Platy-Fish-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Take-Care-of-Baby-Platy-Fish-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid4183600-v4-728px-Take-Care-of-Baby-Platy-Fish-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"