About Nick Expertise First off ---No goldfish or betta questions!!! I can and will reject all questions about goldfish or bettas, so do not bother asking me them.
Anyways, I can answer any question related to the care and breeding of freshwater fish. From disease to maintenence, requirements and tank mates, feeding, breeding, choosing, preferred parameters and minimum tank sizes, as well as disease and injury treatment. I specialize in all freshwater fish, including cichlids, characins, community fish, labyrinth fish (like bettas), monster fish, small catfish (plecos and the like), and predatory fish.
Experience I have dozens of tanks up right now, have had fish since I was 6.
I'm the department manager of the fish section at a local pet store.
Question QUESTION: I have 4 platys two are a male and female of blue Mickey mouse platy and the other two are male and female i think sunrise but I'm not sure. They are bright orange with black fins. I want them to breed. What should I watch out for? how do they breed and when do they do it? when the light is on or off? at night or day? Would you recommend a plastic or net breeder? i have a chubby female platy. she's small but her tummy is round. she sometimes eats a lot but sometimes doesn't eat much. She also sometimes lays on the bottom of the tank and hides. Is she pregnant, or is something wrong? (I'm pretty new with fish)
ANSWER: Hello!
You should have 1 male for every 2 or 3 females, they should still breed but the females may die shortly after if not in the proper male to female ratio.
They will breed under any conditions. Sometimes at night, sometimes at day they aren't particular.
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QUESTION: the day after i asked he question my female sun platy had fry. but right before she had the fry i got anther female of the same kind.could she still die? but of the blue Mickey mouse platy, i have one male and one female. i think my blue platy is pregnant now. what will she look like. how will her belly be shaped? when should i put her in the breeder?
Answer She will likely not die.
It also depends on the males in the tank. But if she does survive she will certainly be very stressed for awhile, and may not give birth for a little.
When she is very pregnant the belly will be roughly square shaped.
