Platies

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

So i got 1.3 platies in a 5 gallon, it has a filter some floating plants for the babies to hide in and for oxygen, and a sucker fish, and its 75F does everything sound good? once the babies are born im going to transfer them into a larger aquarium raise them untill they are about 2 inches them freeze and feed them

[bio6464]

Will they eat when they're frozen?
Jerry

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

frozen shrimp of course

Will they eat when they're frozen?
Jerry

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

So i got 1.3 platies in a 5 gallon, it has a filter some floating plants for the babies to hide in and for oxygen, and a sucker fish, and its 75F does everything sound good? once the babies are born im going to transfer them into a larger aquarium raise them untill they are about 2 inches them freeze and feed them

feed the crap out of them to keep the parents from being hungry enough to actively seek out babies! the plants are great, the more the better for the babies, although I found when I bred guppies that the best way to make sure none of them are eaten is to transfer the pregnant females into those floating plastic things with the grates on the bottom so when she has them they fall through it and she cant get to them!

[drache]

this fish breeder I know recommends making little mops out of synthetic yarn for the fry to hide in
good luck

[Zephyr]

Reed... Get the sucker fish out of there!
If it's a plecostomus it'll turn aggressive, grow big and kill both the babies and breeders.
If it's a "chinese" algae eater it'll do the same but faster.
A 5 gallon is way too small to breed platies in. Also, depending on the strain you purchased and where, you've probably got sterile or extremely unhealthy individuals. Also, platies do best in a brackish environment; you may get babies out of them in a completely fresh setup but you'll never get a consistent flow. Also, if you redo the setup try using java moss for the bottom and water lettuce for the top, although I'm not 100% on whether or not the lettuce will tolerate the higher salinity.

[Zephyr]

pregnant females into those floating plastic things with the grates on the bottom so when she has them they fall through it and she cant get to them!

You can severely halter the birthing process by doing this. The rate of malformed/stillbirth young will be significantly higher if you do this seeing as it's nearly impossible to predict exactly when the platy will give birth and putting her in a new "safer" environment may trigger the process too early.

[Zephyr]

Also, unless you're using a sponge or under gravel filter (the first one being the preferred) you can basically say bye bye to your babies. :P

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

Alright i set up a 30 gallon baby tank with a sponge filter and some plants and i bought one of those baby trap things for the other tank, im also getting a 15 gallon for the breeders

[thinkmore]

Sounds like you're on the right track Bigger tanks and lots of plants and hiding places are just the thing for those times the mom has the kids and you're not expecting it.

Platies don't need nearly as much salt as mollies (though they look pretty similar). A little bit will do it.

The annoying part of the project is waiting SO long for the darn little fishes to grow up