Baby Platy

soluki

soluki

AC Members
May 7, 2007
15
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I recently realized that a platy in my 10 gallon tank had babies. There are currently 4 platys and 4 danios in the tank. There were 3 babies but now only one. The other two were flashier and I think they were eaten :( The one that is left has been very sneaky, hiding under rocks, etc. - it is a dark grey color so blends in better with the substrate. I estimate it is at least about 3 weeks old now. My question is this - I am afraid the others will eat him(her?) so I bought a small 2.5 gallon tank and moved it there. It has an undergravel filter with bubble stone and I am afraid the current may be too strong for the little guy? It came with a 600 motor for the air. I did fill it completely with water from the bigger tank so hopefully not too big a shock (but I thought better than being a meal for the other fish.) Does the little guy have a chance to survive? I was torn between leaving him in the tank with the big fish who love to eat everything and letting him have his own tank and have a chance at growing up. Also, what is the ideal temp for a baby fish? I have it at about 76 degrees.
 
He will be fine if you stay on top of your water parameters. You just put him in a tank that has not been cycled so you will need to do lots of water changes to keep the water good. In your position, I would add some of the gravel from his old home to the new tank. That should help get the cycle going in the little tank although a single platy fry won't produce much waste in the first place.
 
well, i went to put some old gravel in the tank... and i cannot seem to find the little guy in there. i know they hide, but i looked for a long time and i cannot seem to find him :( I hope I didn't accidently bury him with the gravel I added. But I could not find him in there at all. They can't jump out when they are like the size of around half or 3/4 a thumbnail, can they?
 
I only have fake plants and some rocks. What kind of plants do you recommend? Are they hard to keep (I do not have a very green thumb) I would like to have real plants not only because they are more natural but they would protect the next batch of babies. Thanks for any info.
 
Java Moss, Java Fern, Anacharis, Guppy Grass... no thumbs needed. :)
 
You could just toss him into a breeder net. It's still a baby anyway and once it reaches a safe size, you can easily release him back into the tank.

Breeder nets will be cheaper than having to set up a small tank anyway.
 
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