When to move pregnant platy?

[queuetue]

I'd like to keep the fry from a pregnant platy in my tank. She's been showing for at least two weeks, and is huge. How do I know when to move her to the floating fry tank? I've heard moving her too soon would stress her and may lose the fry.

 

[theredchaser]

I'd suggest just getting a clump of java moss or something and let the fry swim around in the clump. The fry can eat junk off the moss so you don't even need to feed em for a while.

If you really want to separate, you'll know when she's about to give birth since she'll just hover motionless in one spot for a while, usually in the corner or something away from the other fish.

 

[Virtuoso2K12]

move her to a 5g tank and add plants or any container that won't stress her.

 

[queuetue]

That would have to be a fully cycled tank, right? I don't have one, although I do have a new empty 10 gallon.

 

[jm1212]

i wouldnt put her into the breeder net. they are very stressful for the mothers and can cause her to give brith to early, not give brith at all, or cause her death.

either move her into a fry tank or move the fry into the breeder net after they have already been born.

 

[Virtuoso2K12]

is the 10g cycled?

 

[J double R]

is the 10g cycled?

a new empty 10 gallon.

:idea:

 

[Virtuoso2K12]

you can always add some of the water from the main tank to the 10g.How many g's is the main tank?

 

[Amante_di_Betta]

The tank is new, and just water from the established tank isnt going to help. I would leave her as is. As stated above, it can cause her to loose the fry, stress drop (early birth) and possibly die. I would leave her in the tank, and add plants for the fry to hide in if she does give birth.

 

[J double R]

you can always add some of the water from the main tank to the 10g.How many g's is the main tank?

moving old water is going to do absolutely nothing. the bacteria in a tank are largely in the filter and substrate.