How to Care for My Platy Fry

Platies are popular freshwater fish because they are hardy, peaceful and come in a stunning range of colors. As with many species of fish, if you put males and females together, you may end up with babies. Platies are different from other fish in that they give birth to live young. Caring for these fry may seem like a daunting task, especially if you are new to the aquarium hobby, but worry not. These fry are easy keepers.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquatic plants
  • Water chemical testing kit
  • Fish net
  • Newly hatched brine shrimp
  • Aquarium vacuum
  • Water conditioner
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Instructions

    • 1

      Add aquatic plants to your tank. Platy fry will instinctively search out hiding spaces once they are born. Java fern, willow moss or hornwort will provide this needed shelter.

    • 2

      Separate the fry from the adult platies. Use a fish net to scoop up the adult platies and place them in a separate tank. This species, unlike many others, does not have any parental instincts and will consider the small fish a food item. Move the adult fish to a new tank to prevent predation.

    • 3

      Feed the fry three times a day -- morning, noon and night. Offer a pinch of finely crushed flake food and newly hatched live brine shrimp.

    • 4

      Remove and replace 25 percent of the tank's water at least twice a week. Place your siphon tube with the vacuum head into the tank and suck on the opposite end to start the suction, which pulls water out of your aquarium. Empty the suctioned water into a bucket for disposal. Add water conditioner to the replacement water to remove chlorine. Follow the manufacturer's directions. There should be no traces of ammonia or nitrite in your aquarium and nitrates should be kept to a minimum. You can measure these levels by using a water chemistry test kit. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.

    • 5

      Separate the males and females into different tanks if you do not want them to breed. You will be able to determine the sex of the fish after two or three months. Females are larger than males. Males have a tube-shaped anal fin called a gonopodium.