i have had two platies give birth. sadly they are very stressed afterwards and both have died days after giving birth. when i was doing research i had never read about that so i'm sure that isn't normal. i'm trying to reduce the stock in my tank to improve water quality.
a few days before they are ready to give birth you can see a black spot on both sides of her body. they will be on her tummy close to her butt. i believe they are called gravid spots. these are actually the babies eyes. after you see these spots, it shouldn't be long.
the first platy i had gave birth to like 14 babies. only 4 of them actually made it. the rest died as babies or disappeared. i think my pleco might have gotten to them.
my second platy gave birth to 23 babies. i am already down to 10 after only a couple weeks.
make sure you don't have the plastic baby trap thing that has slits on the bottom, because the babies can get right out. i have a floating one now. i had a breeder net. but i was always taking the babies out to change water. with the floating one they can stay in it.
good luck.
