[essjay]

Hi guys and gals

Silly question possibly, but can you get more than one colour in a single litter of Platy fry? I'm just trying to determine whether my little ones are from one mamma or two... There's two distinct colours, some are a goldy colour and the others are clear/grey..

Oh and I thought I only had 4 (which I "saved" and have in my little tank and are going great guns), but I've got at least another 4 or 5 in my big tank that seem to be doing fine.. :-D

 

[essjay]

Congratulations on the babies! I had fry a few times, but I never managed to save any

You can have more than one color in a litter, but that doesn't mean that it didn't come from two mamas! Unless you know exactly what colors your platy's (male's and female's) parents, grandparents, and so on, were you will probably get a mix of colors! Good luck with them!

Thanks Sharky :-D Phht... I have no idea who the daddy is let alone older generations... lol

So far I've managed to "save" 12, and there's a couple more elusive little buggers in the big tank still, so that makes 14 or 15 in total from 1 or 2 batches.. Not too bad for a first timer.. The fry loooooves floating java moss... They hide there for a day or 2, then skitch down to the bottom and hide among the rocks and plants.. I could go on and on about the wee things, they are absolutely fascinating to watch... :lol: I might see if I can get some more footage tonight and post it on my Aquarium log..

 

[essjay]

No problem! lol yeah, so you'll be surprised! I wanted to start a breeding project where I selectively breed gold twin-bars, and blue mickey mouse until every litter was gold mickey mouse, or blue twin-bar, but I never started it, and I'm not sure about it right now.

The few platy fry I found liked to hide in the Java fern's roots, and in the gravel that I had in the tank they were in. I didn't have anywhere to put them other than that tank though, so they always disappeared after a while...

They're so much fun to watch! I'd love to see a video of them Have fun with them!

Sounds like a great plan :-D When you're ready I reckon you should go for it! I had no intentions of having babies, I thought I had boys when I got them, but only one turned out to be a boy, so I took him back. So, all girls now and hopefully only a couple of months of babies to go... lol

I've uploaded some videos to my Aquarium profiles if you feel like having a look

 

[essjay]

Well I would, but apparently my pH is too low for livebearers, so I'm going to hold off for a while. Eventually though. lol well only a few more months to go then! Maybe you'll get some girls that you really love and will want to keep with the babies.

I just found out today that all my platys have internal parasites :evil:

I definitely will take a look

Aww that's a shame.. What's your pH? Mine hovers around 7.7-7.8, which I know is pretty high, but my tap water is between 7.6-7.8.. I think the most important thing is keeping everything stable, not so much aiming for a certain level.. My girls (and possibly boys, can't determine the gender of my BN's or cories yet..lol) are very happy and healthy and the babies are going really strong. I'm definitely keeping a few, the rest I'll find good homes for I seem to be seeing a few more every day and am catching them if I can.. OMG, for something so small they are quick!!!

Can you tell me more about the parasites? How did you find out??

 

[essjay]

Oh I'm sure there are males among the babies.. Just can't tell yet! I bet my bottom dollar that my favourite babies will be males.. :roll:

Hmm... I'd be interested to see how you go with the garlic treatment, although I don't have any problems (cross fingers!!), I'd rather not use chemicals if possible and am trying for the most natural approach possible. The only additives I use are the API dechlorinator and duplarit fertiliser for my plants

Best of luck with it and let me know how you go ;-)