Q&A for How to Take Care of Baby Platy Fish

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How do I keep my fish healthy?

Craig Morton
Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc.
Craig Morton is the CEO of Aquarium Doctor Inc. based in Huntington Beach California and servicing Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire. With over 30 years of aquarium experience, Craig specializes in creating custom aquarium designs along with aquarium installation, service, and maintenance.

Craig Morton

Aquarium Specialist, Aquarium Doctor Inc.

Expert Answer

The most important thing is to change 25% of the tank water at least every other week.

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Question

What is the size of platy fry at the time of birth?

Community Answer

They are born about the size of half a grain of rice and are translucent. They will also hide, so they are not easy to spot.

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Question

I think three of my platys look pregnant. How long will it take for them to drop the fry? Also, should I use a fry trap, a nursery tank or an aquarium divider to separate them?

Community Answer

Platies are usually pregnant between 6 - 8 weeks. Once you notice that your platy's stomach has a \___/ shape, then you know she is due to give birth soon. 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.

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Question

How long does it take for the babies to grow to full size?

Community Answer

3-6 months. Longer than that If they are kept in a small enclosure (breeding box) for a long period of time.

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Question

I just noticed our fish had babies. I see 20-30 fry, some look like they're still in the egg. None of them are moving, and they are all in the bottom of the rocks. I assume they are dead, right?

Community Answer

Actually no, the ones at the bottom are not necessarily dead. My babies are resting at the bottom of the breeding net and they are doing just fine. 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.

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Question

How can I tell if my platy fish is pregnant?

Community Answer

Her belly will be swollen and rounder, and she will develop a black spot near her anal fin, called a 'gravid spot.' The darker it becomes, the closer she is to giving birth.

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Question

How do I take care of my baby platy fish and not have them die?

Community Answer

Keep close watch and feed them regularly. Make sure the water temp is correct.

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Question

How often should I feed them?

Community Answer

Start feeding them twice a day to begin, and then four times a day when they start to get bigger.

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Question

What should the water temperature be for baby platy fish?

Dieyun Ding

Top Answerer

Almost the same as the adults (76-82F), but a little bit on the warm side.

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Question

Do I need a separate tank for the baby fish?

Community Answer

It says you want to have one, but it is not necessary. as long as there are lots of hiding places for them.

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Question

My daughter's fry are 5 days old. They've been fed 5x/day and are healthy. How long can they go without being fed?

Community Answer

You shouldn't go without feeding them at all. They will grow rapidly, so it's not an option.

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Question

How often do I need to change the water in the tank?

Community Answer

It depends on how many fry you have and how often you feed them. If the tank has more than 20 fry, changing the water at least twice a week will be enough.

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Question

How do I tell a male from a female platy fish?

Community Answer

The males would have a more rectangular bottom fin. Females would have more of a circular fin at the bottom.

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Question

My fish gave birth without me even realizing one of them was pregnant. Two survived. How can I make sure the other fish don't eat them?

Community Answer

Put them in a separate tank or a breeding box.

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Question

How many platy fry are born at once?

Community Answer

2-40 is pretty standard, but upwards of 80 is not unheard of.

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Question

How can I tell when platies are born?

Community Answer

Your platy will get noticeable thinner, and you may spot some fry darting around.

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Question

What can I give my platies to make them breed fast?

Community Answer

Just make sure their environment is ideal and they aren't stressed in any way.

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Question

Is it okay to have 2 fish in the same small aquarium?

Community Answer

Yes that shouldn't be a problem. I currently have 3 fish in the same aquarium. Just make sure that your tank is big enough for the fish and that you are aware of their genders if you don't want them breeding.

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Question

Does the separate tank for the fry need to have a heater or a filter?

Community Answer

No filter. The fry can get sucked up into it. As for a heater, using it on low can help their growth.

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Question

How many platy females can I put in a separate tank?

Community Answer

Just two. Having more can lead to the other females eating the fry when they come out.

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Question

How long till my platy fish fry can join the adults?

Community Answer

It depends. The fry should be of decent size that the adults don't think that they're food and try to eat them.

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Question

How can I tell my platy fish's gender?

Community Answer

By the fin underneath. If it has a long one, it's a boy. If it has a fan-shaped fin, it's a girl.

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Question

I had 10 baby fish in a breeding box for about two months. They were doing well until a week ago. Two have died and one is doing a headstand. How can I save the rest?

Community Answer

Change water every 3 days without disturbing your baby fish. Make sure they are well fed but not overfed.

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Question

My platy only gave birth to 8 fry. Is that normal?

Community Answer

Platy fish usually have anywhere from 20 to 80 babies. It is possible that she had more, but ate them, or that they were eaten by other adult tank mates.

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Question

Will my adult fish eat the baby fish's food?

Community Answer

Yes, because you can feed the baby fish the same thing as the adults so they would think it's their food.

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Question

Can I put rocks in my fry's tank?

Community Answer

Yes. Just make sure they have been thoroughly cleaned and rinsed.

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Question

When can I release a baby platy into the main tank with other fish?

Community Answer

When it is big enough to not get eaten, which is at least 3-4 months, if not longer.

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Question

Do I have to put the fry back with their parents when they're born?

Community Answer

No, you should keep the fry separated in a smaller tank until they're too large for the parents to swallow easily.

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Question

How do I make my baby platy's eat?

Community Answer

You could try giving them brine shrimp flakes but they would probably eat regular flakes.

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Question

When do I move the mother fish once she has given birth?

Community Answer

It is best to move the mother right after birth to reduce the chance of her eating the fry.

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