How can I tell if my platy is male or female?

How can I tell if my platy is male or female?

Find the Fins Look closely at your platy’s underside, and note the two fins protruding from its belly. The fin in the rear, or anal fin, is called the gonopodium. In female platys this fin is shaped like a fan. If your platy is male, however, the gonopodium will be pointy, flat and long.

Are male platies smaller than females?

Body Size. Female platies are somewhat larger than male platies. Female platies will grow to as long as 2 inches, while males grow only to 1.5 inches long.

What is the rarest platy color?

Pineapple Platies are a new and pretty rare variation. They feature fiery red and orange colors that appear almost iridescent.

Can 2 male platys live together?

I have kept all male platies together (as part of a peaceful community tank) and they do quite well. The only times I’ve seen aggression from them was when there was a female with them. As others have said, individual fish do have individual personalities. There is always that chance.

Can you mix platy fish?

The two species most commonly available in fish stores are Xiphophorus maculatus (southern platyfish) and Xiphophorus variatus (variable or variatus platy). They can crossbreed with each other and with swordtail species, which has resulted in many different color variations. What are the different platy fish types?

Can platys breed with guppies?

Guppies and platies are two different families. Guppies are from the Poeciliidae family, while platies are from the Xiphophorus. This means, guppies and platies can’t crossbreed, so no matter how hard you would like to have a guppy platy hybrid, it is impossible.

Do platys hide giving birth?

Too much chasing could stress the female and delay or prevent the birth. Your female may also hide in a secure part of the tank away from other fish. This could indicate that she is looking to feel safe and have a spot to deliver her young.

Do platies eat their babies?

Adult platies don’t have any protective instinct toward fry; in fact, they may eat them. This is why it’s essential to remove the fry from the aquarium as soon as possible. To accomplish this, you must monitor the aquarium no less than every two hours to identify whether any fry have been born.

Can you keep a single platy?

Can platy fish live alone? Yes. While platies do seem to enjoy the company of their own kind, they don’t tend to school together in a tight group unless they think you’re about to feed them.

Will male platys fight?

If you want only one sex in the tank, choose females over males as the boys will fight. If mixing the sexes, choose a male for every three females. More males will fight each other and will harass and stress out the females.

Can I keep only male platies?

Do platys like air bubbles?

I checked on them last night and they are not gasping for air at the top of the tank, however they do like to spend time at the top and play with bubbles. Several will grap air at the top and take the bubble halfway down the tank and release the bubble. One will do this hundreds of times.

How many platies should I keep together?

How many platies should be kept together? A group of three to six platies is a good starting point. As with most livebearers, the males constantly want to mate, so try to keep at least two females for every one male to give the girls a break.

Can Molly live with platy?

Yes, platies and mollies can live together. Both species are known for their peaceful and friendly natures, so they will get along well in a community tank. Platies and mollies also have similar water and tank requirements, so you won’t have trouble meeting both of their needs simultaneously.

Do platys eat guppy fry?

Yes they do. A larger fish will always eat a smaller fish, so yes, your platys will eat guppy fry.

How long is a platy pregnant?

around 28 days
The pregnant platy will behave pretty much the same as she does normally. There are no distinct behavioral changes to look out for. Like other live-bearing fish, she carries her fry until they are fully developed. The gestation period typically lasts for around 28 days.

Why is my platy poop white?

Most of the time, you’ll barely notice this mucus coating because of what your fish eats. The mucus is stretched thin and you’ll see a mush similar in color to the pellets you feed. If your fish has not been eating, you will only see the mucus. This is the “stringy, white fish poop” in fish.

How long is the pregnancy of a platy?

24-35 days
Platies 24-35 days.