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I've had a female platy for about 1 1/2 years now, I raised her since she was born. The male I stuck with her, apparently is infertile, or knows that's his sister, because she has never once had babies. Well, today the petstore was having a buy one get one free deal on platies, so I got 4. Total platy population is now 6. 3 Males (including the one i believe to be infertile, hes also very small for being 1 1/2 years as well) and 3 females. Question is though, since the platy I've had has never been pregnant until this point, is she still able to have babies? Will it cause any problems if she gets pregnant? Or will it actually be better for her that she's waited so long?

I really don't want to lose my favorite fish that I've raised since she was born. So, any thoughts, experience, or anything is appreciated.

she should be fine, it is better not to let young female livebearers stay with males, as it can cause growth problems.

I agree. It is better for her to have waited until she was a little older to breed. You'll be having platy babies in no time then, you'll wonder what you were thinking. I currently have around 20 platy fry in my tank right now...they are cute and I think I have homes for all of them, but I'm going to have to separate the males from the females pretty soon or it will get ridiculous.

FYI: the males stay quite a bit smaller than the females...at least , that's the case in my tank.

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~~Melissa~~
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

Alrite, sounds like I have nothing to worry about then.

Would a second or third batch be in better condition than her first? Since she would have more experience? Or do you think they'd all come up the same?

The batch # doesn't matter because platy's do not care for their young once they are born. In fact, most eat them.

I'm aware that many of them eat their own fry, I was just wondering on the experience of holding them, if the first batch would come out weaker than the next one from the same fish.

My platies haven't had any babies yet, but my Black Molly did. Only one survived, though.

ive come to find that its not really an issue of birth number that makes a healthier batch... ive had a molly that has had in the 6 month time ive owned her, 6 births... go figure huh? her first was a HUGE group of about 40 fry, the second slighlty smaller, and so on and so on... she luckily isnt breeding anymore due to me selling all my males, but i think the real moral is, the health is all in the health of the fish, conditions of the tank, and stress factors.

*Chelle*
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I love the fishes cuz they're SOOO delicious...

If I am not mistaken than the health of the fry is not closely related to the number of batches the particular mother has (as already stated).

What is related though is the number of fry born with each batch, usually young females carry less fry than fully grown females, which makes sense as they are smaller.

Hope this helps (and is correct),

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I too have a similar problem.... I have one female platy that not only has never gotten pregnant - the males don't show any interest in her at all!!!! She's truly a beauty! Overall black with the creamiest white underbelly! Actually, out of all the female platys in my tank, SHE is the one I was HOPING to have offspring! Now my males weren't acquired at the same time - and they are quite sexually active - - chasing all the other females around, and we've had babies.... But this particular girl is NEVER chased.... In fact, I would describe her as being a loner... Just doesn't seem to interact like the rest of my platys do - male or female... Just like the author of this thread, I've truly wondered if she is infertile.... ?????? ..... Still, there's a big part in me that is hoping she just hasn't found the right man yet... I know it took me awhile to do so - although I tried and tried! LOL!

To thine own self be true...

dreamweaver, I know what you mean by she's the only one you wanted to breed, and it's not working out. I posted this the day I got new males, and still, nothing. I have 3 males in there now and she's the only female as the others are in different tanks for fry, and still nothing. Think it's possible that maybe the platies are taking on human characteristics and think she's ugly or maybe they're just mean and undesirable? Haha, I have no idea.

Not a good picture --- but I just couldn't get my girl to stay still!!! Anyway, here's my beauty!

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To thine own self be true...