4 platies, 2 months, no babies

[Anike]

I got the impression that platies are real prolific breeders and everyone else has no problem getting theirs to breed. I have 3 females and 1 male and I've yet to see any belly swelling or babies. The male is always a constant companion to one of the girls and chases away the other females. It seems like he's courting her but it's been that way since day 1 and none of them are pregnant. Does it take more time for them to get established and do their thing?

 

[Twinbot]

Dunno. I bought five platies three months ago. One gave birth the very next day. Another popped a week later. On average, I get a new brood every 5 - 6 weeks. The dwarf gourami eats 'em all, though.

Ah, nature ... !

 

[catfishmike]

what are you feeding them?cheap food makes it though for fish to develop all the nessicary hormones and such to repoduce

 

[Anike]

Ah, maybe that's it... I feed a mix of Tetra flakes/floating/sinking pellets, brine shrimp and blood worms (not all at once!) - should I feed those particular fish more vegetable matter or something?

 

[catfishmike]

no actualy thats all good staple food your feeding them,which will usualy get them to breed.how old is the food perhaps it's too old?

 

[Anike]

The food is a couple months old... maybe the male *whispers* has problems, poor guy lol. He follows this one specific female all the time; they're inseparable companions so I'm not sure what's going on, maybe he's shooting blanks. (!!) Okay well, I guess I'll resign myself to not expect babies and then perhaps one day I'll suddenly notice some.

 

[Guardian]

Originally posted by Anike
should I feed those particular fish more vegetable matter or something?

Definately, livebearers need more vegtable matter in their diet. I'd say drop in 1/2 algae tablet every 3 to 4 days.

 

[Anike]

Thank you, I'll do that. On another note, the other day I was moving things around in my tank and after moving the biggest rock in there a little bit to the side, my boyfriend saw a tiny fry swimming away...only to land in a platy's mouth. I haven't seen others. -_-

 

[FroggyFox]

well COOL lol Not cool that it was eaten...but at least you know they're not defective/mutant. I thought the same thing about my guppies...till they all had babies

Another thing you can do is to feed them some live food. Hatch some brine shrimp and feed it to them. It took mine awhile to see the little shrimp...but once they figured out it was a feeding frenzy. Besides, you need to figure out what to do with your babies if you ever save any...what you're going to feed them and what not. If you feed babies live food and/or better quality food they'll grow up healthier than the ones who just eat powdered flake food.

Some of them might have a better chance of surviving if you put more plant cover for them in the tank...places for them to hide so they won't all be eaten.