How Long Before Platys Fish Can Breed in the USA
Platy fish can breed once they are four months old (although they are not considered “adult” fish until six months of age). This species is a livebearer, which means that the female gives birth to free-swimming young. The term of gestation is 28 days.
How old do platys have to be to breed?
Platies reach sexual maturity at around 4 months old. Males, who are slightly smaller than females in adulthood, have gonopodia — otherwise referred to as anal fins — with which they directly fertilize females. This is unusual: The majority of fish do not mate directly.
How fast do Platies breed?
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.
How do you know when a platy fish is about to give birth?
The Eyes of the Fry and Signs of Impending Birth To accommodate the developing eggs, the mother’s body expands, becoming deeper and broader. A few days before delivery, she develops a bulge below the gills, her outline becoming fairly square in this region, while the gravid spot has enlarged its area.
Are platys easy to breed?
Platy fish are relatively easy to breed, and they don’t require a lot of encouragement. As long as you introduced both male and female platy fish to the tank, they should start breeding in a short amount of time.
How many times can a platy get pregnant?
The term of gestation is 28 days. When paired with a male in a community tank, this means your female platy can potentially give birth every four weeks.
What is the lifespan of a platy fish?
Healthy platies can live up to 3-4 years when kept in optimal environments with clean water, low stress, and good nutrition.
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 small are platy fry?
On average a Platy fry measures around 7-8mm in length. Sometimes they can be even smaller than that.
How many babies do Platies have?
Each batch of Platy fry average 20 to 40 in number, but they may give birth to as much as 80. These aren’t much compared to other fish because Platies do not lay eggs and thus have a smaller space for developed fry in their wombs.
How long is a fish pregnant?
As examples, the female swordtail and guppy will both give birth to anywhere from 20 to 100 live young after a gestation period of four to six weeks, and mollies will produce a brood of 20 to 60 live young after a gestation of six to 10 weeks.
How many Platies do you need to breed?
We can’t put equal numbers of male and female Platies or the males will pester the females constantly. Platies are live bearers and these kinds of fish are all prolific breeders. So in order to curb male aggression, Platies should have a male to female ration of 1:2 or 1:3 or one male for every 2 or 3 females.
Will a swordtail breed with a platy?
Yes, since Swordtails and Platy fish come from the same family of Xephophorus, they can breed and produce viable offspring.
How do Platies give birth?
Platy fish are livebearers, which means that they give birth to live young rather than dropping eggs into the water like many other fish. In an aquarium, other fish may eat the newborn platy, but they can be protected with a breeding net or by moving the expectant mother to a brood tank just before she gives birth.
What fish can platys breed with?
Platies are very active and friendly fishes. They can live in perfect harmony with small fishes that belong to their family. Swordtail fishes, molly fish, and guppies are perfect tank mates for the platies. All these fishes love to swim about freely in the tank and they are also good at jumping.
How do you stop platys from breeding?
How to Avoid Unwanted Fish Breeding in Your Tank Buy only one gender of fish, preferably males. If you don’t have male and female fish together, there is less chance for baby fish to appear. Choose egg-laying species rather than live bearers. Adjust tanks conditions to make breeding less comfortable.
Do platy fry need a heater?
If you want them to live, you need a cycled tank with a filter and heater.
Can Platies live in unheated tank?
68 – 78 Degrees Fahrenheit (20 – 25 Celcius) So if your tank stays between these markers your Platys will be comfortable. Even if the water temperature is a little higher or lower in general, Platys can tolerate the difference really well as long as the temperature change is gradual.
Can platys live in ponds?
Although the fish suitable for outdoor ponds are hardy, you still must lookout for predators. Some species, such as guppies, platys, swordtails, and mollies, are such prolific breeders that the constant addition of new fry will outpace just about any predator.
How long do platy eggs take to hatch?
Platies 24-35 days.
How long do you keep fry in breeder box?
How long do you keep fry in the breeder box? In general, the babies should be large enough to not fit in mouths of the adult fish before you add them back into your main tank. For livebearer fry, this may be as soon as 4 to 5 weeks. What do you do with baby fish you don’t want?.
How can I tell if my fish is pregnant?
As your female fish becomes pregnant, she will grow a bulge at the back of her abdomen. This typically appears over the course of 20-40 days. Does your fish have a red or black spot? Sometimes, when a female fish is pregnant, she will develop a “gravid spot” on the abdomen.
How do you tell if your fish is pregnant or just fat?
Carrying Eggs – One reason your fish may appear slightly bigger is because it is carrying eggs. If your fish is a female, is not overly fat, and is normal in most other regards, this is a very high possibility. Another indication is if your fish has an enlarged vent; this is where the eggs will come out.