Q&A for How to Breed and Care for Platies

When some females are close to giving birth, they will sometimes try to hide behind plants. Sometimes they will stay in one spot and shake/quiver for a few seconds. These are contractions. If you notice that she looks all of a sudden very plump and like she's about to pop, it's because she is!

Depending on the color, it could be due to either stress or a change in the dominance of your tank. If the color is fading, your fish is stressed. If the color is turning more vibrant, your fish is gaining more dominance in the tank.

There is not an exact percentage, but about 80% should survive. To give them away at the pet store, they should be 3-5 months old. Remember to separate the fry from the other fish to avoid being eaten.

Fish breeding is the male swimming behind and bumping the female. You will see breeding behavior, but this may happen when you're not looking, and the next thing you know, your platy looks pregnant.

No, they are community fish that get very lonely and depressed on their own, possibly fatally. Make sure you have 3 or more at a time.

Yes, as long as you feel as though the fry have enough places to hide and ensure that other fish don't eat them. Try adding in a few at a time and make close observations as to how the other fish are reacting. If the number of fry decrease, ensure you have another tank to put them in temporarily until they are big enough to go into the main tank.

I believe that is the feces (poop) of the fish. It's completely normal for the platys to poop such a long string. An increase in water changes will help keep the excess poo from fouling the water. You can change up to 20% of the water per week.

Yes, it is certainly possible, but it will be easier to breed 4-3 females for each male.

It's best to use a sponge filter. Filters with intake tubes will suck up the fry. The currents from their water system could also stress them out.

When the fish first arrive in the tank, don't put the lights on. After that, leave the lights on for 8-12 hours at most.

Yes, platies are compatible with most other tropical community fish, including neons and guppies.

76-82 degrees F is the best temperature for platies, as they are tropical fish.

It can, so be sure to put a knee-high pantyhose stocking over the filter so the fry won't get sucked up and killed.

Males generally have a pointy anal fin, while female platies have a more fan-shaped anal fin.

You can feed them crushed up flakes/pellets or baby brine shrimp.

Until they are bigger than an adult's mouth. That will prevent them from being eaten.

They can either swim through it, or fall through it. Some might stay there.

Yes, your platies are probably trying to breed. Either that, or they're territorial, and they need a tank upgrade.

No! All fish need a filter.

Yes, all platies will breed regardless of their color. Be prepared for up to 50+ babies.

If, after a few days, she has a gravid spot) black/brown spot near end of stomach), then she is pregnant and you should put her in a breeding container.

Males have a gonopodium, a modified anal fin that looks like a stick. Females have normal, fan shaped anal fins.

They will breed. But you are way overstocked, especially if you want to breed platies. Get a 20 gallon and you should be fine.

This usually will not work out. If the platies can fit in the frog's mouth, there is a good chance he will eat them.

Then have only males or females, but not both.

Any other live bearers (mollies, guppies) will work well with platys. Most tetras would be compatible too. Dwarf gouramis are pretty colorful, and remain about platy size. Finally, the corydoras catfish would be a nice bottom feeder to compliment the platys, which are top feeders.

You will need to have a heater if the temperature drops below 72°F. Platies are tropical fish, which means they need warm water, between 72°F and 80°F, to thrive.

No, a fish bowl is too small. Get an aquarium with proper filtration and aeration instead.

A platy can have between 20-80 fry. Once they become pregnant, it takes 24-30 days for the fry to be born. Once a platy gives birth, they can become pregnant again fairly quickly.

I don't recommend this. Sometimes, even with no female, male platies can get aggressive with each other.