how can I make a new strain of platys?

Answer 1

New color varieties are being created all the time. If you count the very minor differences some people call varieties as actual varieties, some are so similar I can't see them calling something different personally.

But to answer the question, you need to find at least one male and one female that have something that reflects the new trait you want and the more they show the better. Breed them and get rid of the babies that don't show this trait. Breed the very best of the babies to each other and also back to the parents. Again being rushless with the culling, breed only the very best back into the line. Eventually you will get more and more of the trait you want on each fish and it will be on a larger and larger percentage of the spawn.

Don't expect this to happen overnight, it can take many generations of fish to get even close to where you want to be. To fix a difficult or recessive trait can be a 20 year long project, or a 2 year project, you can never tell. Frankly, some traits are so recessive and reliant on so many different genes that they can not be reliably fixed into a strain.

MM

Answer 2

Get quality fish,learn how to keep them in top condition(pristine water quality, lots of live food,large aquaria),learn all of Mendel's Laws,then when you know all this,learn how to raise the fry(a new set of challenges). If you like to study and learn this can be very rewarding. Get as many serious books on Livebearers as you can find and join The American Livebearer Association,a great source of information and the leading edge of the development of pure strains of top quality fish. Good luck.-----PeeTee

Answer 3

breed them together, good luck making a new strain, everything possible has already been made

Answer 4

selectively breed from quality fish, NOT pet store fish, fish from other experienced breeders.