Platy Fry: How to help them survive?

[newfishhobbyist]

Hi all.

Four days ago I noticed about 10 tiny platy fry hiding in the hornwort plant in my 28 gallon freshwater tank.

Here's what I've done so far but if anyone has any good advice, please let me know:

Put a bit of nylon over the bottom of my powerfilter with rubberband to ensure the platy fry don't get sucked up into the filter box.

Bought and installed a tank divider that separates my 3 catfish, 5 mickey platies and 2 zebra danio from the platy fry still very tiny, hiding out in the hornwort plant.

Bought baby brine shrimp (frozen cubes) and liquid fry food.

Did 1 water change of only 3 gallons today.

What else can I do to ensure the platy frys are going to continue to grow and not be eaten by any of my other fish?

The tank divider I bought is not wide enough - there is a 1 inch gap that my catfish and zebra danios fit through, but so far the mickey platies have not tried to infiltrate it.

I also cant find any info. on the internet about how long it takes platy fry to grow to a point where they are too big to be eaten and when I could take out the tank divider (will that really help them feel more safe do you think?).

Any advice is really helpful. I had no idea my platies were pregnant. May have been when I bought them from Petsmart.

[Nolapete]

The easiest way to be 100% sure they will survive is to get one of the little mess baby breeder nets that hang on the inside of your tank. Catch all the fry and put them in there. When they are about 1/2" long they are probably going to be bigger than any of your fish can eat.

[jm1212]

what you ahve done should be enough to make sure they wont get eaten. acctually, you probably couldve left the tank undivided and most of them wouldve survived in the hornwort.

[Malbri]

To get them to grow fast, feed alot, do water changes often

[newfishhobbyist]

I have a 30 gallon aqua clear filter that I stretched a piece of panty-hose nylon to the end of with rubberbands to ensure that the platy fry I have won't get sucked up into the filter. But the darn thing won't let water through for circulation at the top of the tank.

I'm afraid if I take off the nylon the platy will all get sucked up into the filter. But what are my other options? A mesh bag to rubberband at the end? Won't the holes in the mesh bag be too big for the fry to prevent them from getting sucked through?

Also, I returned the tank divider b/c the holes were large enough for the platy fry to swim through. Instead, i just bought another bushy hornwort plant, which I put along side the other hornwort. It's really thick and tall so that should keep them well hidden.

But this stupid filter thing is driving me crazy. What can I do to the filter's end as far as covering it since the pantyhose nylon is too thick apparently, and not enough water is getting through.

Help!

[Nolapete]

Do you have an old sponge for your aquaclear? Cut a piece of it, then put a slot in one end and then slide it on the intake. Works like a charm.

[Mgamer20o0]

what you ahve done should be enough to make sure they wont get eaten. acctually, you probably couldve left the tank undivided and most of them wouldve survived in the hornwort.

agreed. mine went from 8 to 40-50 in no time. the fry all hide out in the hornwort. as they got older they would start to swim out. they lived off the stuff on the hornwort and prob flake food that got trapped in there. platie fry are big. they should be ok on just crushed flake food.

[Nolapete]

:iagree: I just forgot to write that before I submitted. Everything you did is enough in a planted tank to keep them alive. You didn't even need the divider.

[Mgamer20o0]

glad someone agrees with me for once.

[Nolapete]

LOL, we usually agree.

[newfishhobbyist]

Do you have an old sponge for your aquaclear? Cut a piece of it, then put a slot in one end and then slide it on the intake. Works like a charm.

I stink at spacial reasoning so I can't visualize what you mean here. When you say piece, how large? When you say put a slot in one end, huh? It's Greek to me. Can you explain it better? Maybe b/c Im a woman (Yeah, had to pull the woman card) I just don't get it.

I know. Pretend I'm a 6th grader and you have to explain it to me. Sad, but true. What is the "intake" by the way? Is that the pointy end of the filter in the water? And by slot, do you mean, cut a square piece of sponge, and then cut in the middle of the sponge so that both sides cover the outer intake? See? I just don't get it. I'm like, visually challenged. Help! Ha ha.

[Mgamer20o0]

you cut a hole the size of the intake. the intake is the part of the filter thats in the water that sucks up the water.

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/basics/sponge_filter.jpg
that some kind of idea.


there are also pre made systems.

http://www.jehmco.com/PRODUCTS_/FILTRATION/Hydro-Sponge_Filters/Hydro-Flo-Sponge_300.JPG

[newfishhobbyist]

I don't understand. This is what my filter looks like. Very different from the photos you show here.

The aqua clear filter is very different that the two photos you posted above:


http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/43/62/petsFishFiltrationFiltersAllHagen_AquaClear_Power_ Filter-resized200.gif (http://www10.epinions.com/content_272466153092#)

Is the bottom of the filter in this photo, the intake? So what do I do with that piece of sponge in reference to this photo, of the type of filter I have?

[Mgamer20o0]

yes the thing that sticks into the water is the intake. you can buy a sponge and just cut with a knife into it. down about a couple inch so it covers up all the slits in the tube.

thats a AC hob filter.

[newfishhobbyist]

Great! I have a new sponge for that filter that I will cut and put on the outside (correct?) of the filter, not the inside?

[Mgamer20o0]

correct over the intake to cover the holes.

[Nolapete]

When I say put a slot in one end, I mean take a sharp knife, like a steak knife and stick in in one end to make a slot that you can fit your finger in. This should be enough to snugly slide over the end of the intake pipe in the aquarium. If you're still having trouble, I'll see if I can do one and take pictures.

[newfishhobbyist]

Thanks Nolapete. You and Mgamer were really helpful. I checked the fry before I shut off the lights tonight and I could actually see more of them -- in the second hornwort plant I put in the tank today. Not only does it look great, but hopefully in three months, those little fry will be big enough to enjoy even more.

This forum is great b/c of the tricks of the trade I'm learning so far, like the sponge over the outtake filter trick to protect the platy fry from getting sucked into the filter.

[Mgamer20o0]

its also good to keep plants out of the filter. i have them on all my filters.

[newfishhobbyist]

Cool. My only concern is, will I spend a lot of time using a net to grab bits of plant and food and fish waste since I'll have the filter covered in the sponge now? Will I have to do more frequent water changes too? Oi vay.

[Mgamer20o0]

nope. if there is food on it the fish will eat it.

[swinneyw]

they need lots of hiding places i put lots of lave rocks and plants in and before you know i had lots of platies more than i needed