[tommaso889]

hey im new to fish keeping and yesterday i bought 5 female platies and today i saw a baby and i think one of them could be pregnant but i have not seen any others and now the 1 i did see has gone can anyone tell me what has happened p.s i think i saw him swim by the filter and get suckes in.

[Twistersmom]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

My fry are pretty good about avoiding the filter. Keep looking the baby could still be in their hiding. Sometimes, parents will eat their own fry. If your tank is large enough to accommodate a breeders net, you can place the fry in the net, to keep them safe.

[tommaso889]

the only thing is i cant find the fry and do u think i should look in the filter for the fry and where can i get one of them net things baring in mind i live in the uk

[Twistersmom]

This is the net I use, Penn Plax Net Breeder at PETCO

Not sure about the UK, but here in the States, you can buy them at most fish stores and department stores that carry fish supplies.

If the fry is missing, they will have more soon, and you can try saving the next. Adding more plants for the fry to hide in, can also help protect the fry.

[tommaso889]

how can i tell when she is next gonna have babies or where can i find eggs for either three spot gouramis or peppered corydoras and how many baby will platies have ?

[Twistersmom]

Platy give birth every 3-4 weeks They can have anywhere from 5-50 fry at one time. A pregnant female, will get large in the stomach area. The belly will get a squared off look, when she is ready to give birth.

[tommaso889]

what would you recommend doing when she gives birth again because the only tank i have is an old Goldfish tank which is really dirty

[Twistersmom]

What size tank are the fish in now?

[tommaso889]

they are in a 60 litre (uk) with 3 three spot gourami 2 peppered cordoras and 5 Platy one of them i think is pregnant

[Twistersmom]

If my calcuculations are correct, you tank is around 15 US gallons.
I think you can leave the fry in that tank, by either using the net or adding plants and decor for the fry to hide in or behind. I think the gourami will see the fry as a yummy snack as well as the adult Platy. The breeders net, probably the safest choice, till they grow a bit.