Platys are excellent beginner fish, being viviparous and very hardy. There are so many colors, which will liven up any community aquarium.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Part 1: Setting up your Aquarium
Step 1. If you are installing a new aquarium, get a filter, heater and some rocks
Step 2. Decide how many Platys you want or can put in your aquarium without making it too crowded
The general rule is about 2 centimeters of fish per liter of water in the tank. Do the math based on the size of the adult fish, not the current size. Platys reach 5 centimeters in length as adults.
Step 3. Learn about the cyclical process
You should start with an empty cycle.
Method 2 of 4: Part 2: Get your Platys
Step 1. Get the right food and make sure you don't add aggressive species to your aquarium
Step 2. Start by inserting one or two fish; they can be Platy or other species
Spend several weeks between small additions of fish until the aquarium is complete.
Step 3. Choose the largest and most colorful Platys:
it is a sign that I am healthy.
Step 4. If you want fry (baby fish), keep 2-3 females for each male
This will reduce aggression in males and stress in females.
Step 5. If you don't want fry, then just select one genus
Be careful, though: females may already be pregnant at the time of purchase.
Step 6. Once you bring the fish home, place the unopened bag in the aquarium for 15 minutes to get them accustomed to the temperature, then use a net to introduce the fish directly into the tank
Try not to mix the water from the store with your own, which will likely be less polluted.
Method 3 of 4: Part 3: Taking care of your new Pisces
Step 1. Feed in small doses once a day
Step 2. Change 25% of the water at least once a week and DO NOT change the filters as incorrectly suggested by the package
Even if the filter packaging tells you it needs to be changed, if you do, your aquarium will start a new cycle, killing some of your fish. Change the carbon inside the filter once a month.
Step 3. If the water is cloudy, change it 20% more often, even once a day, until it becomes clear again
Method 4 of 4: Part 4: Raising the Platys and Caring for the Fry
Step 1. If you have 2-3 females for each male, there is a high chance that females will get pregnant
There is no way to induce mating, but figuring out if they're pregnant is easy - they get fat.
Step 2. Remember that it takes about 4-5 weeks before the fry are born
Step 3. Find out if a female is very close to her date
If so, you can place her in a plastic or mesh farrowing room which will separate the hatchlings from the rest of the fish. Once she has all given birth - there may be between 20 and 50+ fry - remove the mother.
Step 4. Carefully transport the fry to a 4-gallon, aerated tank with a submerged filter
If you don't have such a filter, change 20-25% of the water every two weeks and make sure the water is at the same temperature. Make sure there is no traditional filter as the fry would be sucked in.
Step 5. Feed the fry
You can give them powdered fish feed or fry specific food 3-4 times a day. Live food is ideal (baby shrimp babies in brine) and will guarantee you good quality fish and bright colors.
Step 6. When they are old enough to eat regular food, you can put them back in your main tank, again avoiding overcrowding
Platys over an inch long are large enough to fit with adults.
Advice
- Many pet stores indicate on the tank whether the fish are aggressive, semi aggressive or community fish. Always do your research before mixing different species. However, it wouldn't be the first time a shop has gone wrong.
- You can tell the sex of a fish by looking at the fin on the abdomen and tail. Males have gonopodium, a modified fin that is thin and pointed. If the fin is in the shape of a triangle, it is a female.
- Whenever you add water to the tub, be sure to dechlorinate it.
- Dwarf Platys are always a good alternative if you have a smaller aquarium, if you want a few more fish, or just smaller fish.
- Choose fish with the brightest eye colors because usually the brighter this color is, the healthier the fish is.
Warnings
- Delivery rooms made of plastic can cause problems during births and with water circulation. Instead, look for a mesh model or a plastic one with ventilation.
- Fish take time and money. Make a commitment to look after your fish, as you would any other animal.
