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Just wondering if anyone here has had what seems to be a pregnant platy for months on end?

I've had a platy with one male for a number of months. It didn't take long, as most livebearers don't, to get pregnant. She's been "bursting at the seams" for a long time but to date no fry seen. I say seen because it's possible she dropped the load and they were eaten. But she still looks like she's holding. I've never had this "problem" with any livebearer before.

Any ideas.

JazzyB:88)

What are your water conditions like? I've heard that a platy will hold her fry if she's not happy with her environment or water conditions. Not sure if this is entirely true. Some others here will be of more help I am sure. Other than that I am not sure why she might be holding back. Hopefully others can be of more assistance.

Good luck!

Do you have alot of plants in your tank and what else is in with her?

If the tank is lightly planted and you have other fish with her she could have dropped a batch and they got eaten. She might be working on her second. My livebearers always look ready to burst.

If you have alot of plants some at least should have made it and she probably has not dropped them. Sometimes it seems like my swordtails take forever.

I'd give it some more time (like you have a choice)and maybe do a couple water changes a week for awhile.

Good luck, Mike

conditioning might help. like feeding nutritious food. i prefer live food. and do frequent water change.

The tank has plenty of plants that could provide hiding spaces, i.e., cambomba, etc. The other fish in the tank are quite peaceful: Microgeophagus ramirezi, Microgeophagus Altispinosa, Corydoras paleatus and a small band of Melanotaenia praecox. The praecox school is quite voracious and I would say that they could've easily decimated small fry. I'll give it some more time and keep my eye on the tank. The praecox are being moved shortly so that would leave the tank with some slower moving, very peaceful fish. I'm going to add another female just to see if she becomes pregnant and to watch if a similar cycle develops.

JazzyB:88)

I am wondering if she may be constipated or egg-bound. Keep a close eye on her to make sure her habits don't change (swimming, eating, etc) and keep us posted.

She's not constipated, eating quite well, swimming normally, etc.