I currently have 4 platys (3 females 1 male) and 2 rasboras in my 20 gallon tank. I also have some 51 platy fry in two breeder nets inside the tank from those platys or prior ones that died after giving birth. I have a couple of platy fry which are getting big, but am wondering at what size it would be safe to move them to the main tank. The adult platys are probably 2"+ long, while the largest platy fry is maybe 1/2"+ long. I know that the adults will eat/harass the platy fry (have seen them being chased in the main tank), so don't want to move them too early. I had an adult get into a breeder tank once, and it ate all the tiny fry, and the larger ones were killed.
when to move platy fry to main tank
- Thread starter etspam
- Start date
I dont seperate platy fry in my tank but if they make it to about .75" they usually survive, might get chased at feeding time but dont get killed or eaten, atleast by other platies.
Just keep in mind that if an adult got in the breeder net, there was no place for any of the fry to hide. If you have plants in your main tank, the bigger fry would likely be safer there, than in the breeder net with an adult. I had about 1/2" platy fry in my tank, and no one bothered them, but there was only 1 adult platy and pork chop (hengel's) rasboras - not sure which rasboras you have - and other gentle fish.
I have plastic plants in the tank, but it's not heavily planted. Any fry that I have left in the tank have died (not sure the specific reason, whether eaten, natural causes, or didn't get any food). At most, they got a little larger than when the first came out. At least in the breeder tank they definitely get food. I think I will wait a little bit longer before trying to put one of the largest into the main tank. The rasboras aren't an issue, they're very gentle.