Platies do not have an overly long life span and most will live to a maximum age of three years in a home aquarium, though there are rare cases of them living five years or longer. They reach maturity quickly though, and will be ready to breed in
as short as four months of age
.
Do platys breed easily?
How often do platys breed?
Compared to fish babies that hatch from eggs, livebearer fry are usually bigger, faster, and have a much higher survival rate. In the right conditions, female platies can give birth to
20 to 50 babies per month
.
How long are platy fish pregnant for?
A Platy pregnancy can range anywhere between
25 to 45 days
. However, most Platies tend to give birth around the 28-day mark.
How can you tell if a platy fish is pregnant?
How do I know when my platy is in labor?
Why are my platys not breeding?
If your platy fish don’t seem to be breeding,
make sure you have both male and female fish in the tank
. Also, make sure your fish are healthy and that you’re feeding and caring for them properly since unhealthy platy fish might not breed.
Do platys eat their babies?
Because
platies do eat their young
, you will end up with the greatest number of surviving fry if you purchase a separate tank for them to live in while they grow. A separate aquarium for your fry can be purchased at most pet stores.
Will platys breed in cold water?
Though typically found in Freshwater aquariums,
Platy fish can also thrive in coldwater tanks, as long as the water parameters are kept consistent
. Plenty of water changes and a consistent temperature will keep your Platy fish happy.
How do you catch platy fry?
How do platies mate?
Do pregnant platys poop a lot?
Ovoviviparous fish like platys
will often poop clear or white, stringy poop before they give birth
. Pregnant platys often pass this kind of poop up to two days before giving birth.
Can a platy have babies without a male?
Platies can’t breed without a male
. They have to have contact at least once in order for the female to get pregnant. Scientists have been studying the sperm-storing ability among fish particularly on another live bearer that hoards sperm: the Guppy.
What fish can breed with platys?
Platies will breed with other fish, which are from the same family: Xiphophorus. One of the most common fish that you can buy at the pet store are
swordtails
, which are also from the Xiphophorus family. Platies and swordtails will crossbreed, and you can have some really interesting results experimenting with this.
Are platys and mollies the same?
Both Platy and Molly fish belong to the same family of livebearers
. However, platies tend to have bodies that are shorter and rounder in structure as compared to mollies that are longer and a tad bit sleeker in appearance.
How big do platys get?
The platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) grows to a maximum overall length of
7.0 cm (2.8 in)
. Sexual dimorphism is slight, the male’s caudal fin being more pointed. The anal fin of the male fish has evolved into a gonopodium, a stick-shaped organ used for reproduction.
How do you keep platy fry alive?
Should I separate my pregnant platy?
It is best to keep the pregnant Platy safe whether you plan to keep the fry or not.
If she’s suffering from stress, tank mate aggression, or bullying, separate her into a breeding tank (not a breeding box) without any males
.
How long does Molly pregnancy last?
As I’ve mentioned above, mollies are usually pregnant for a period anywhere from
20 to 40 days (average 30 days)
. Of course, that would be how long they’ll last from conception to birth. But before this period, there is usually a courtship period between the male and female molly, which can last another couple of days.
