I asked this befire but i got no help? Platties?

Question

I had 3 red wag platies, i got hem firom petsmart with fin rot. BUt i had with them bought 14 other fish, well 4 of them died, so i returned those first. but they barley returned them saying that i killed them, i wa shappy i didn't bring my platties, well one died about s week ago. Now i have 2 in then tank cured. I want to know if they are male and female and i have a big one but not wide big in hieght is it pregnent.

Answer 1

Here's a male platy:

http://www.akvarieweb.com/files/platy/59.jpg

Notice the fin on the bottom pointing to the back? That's how to tell males from females. Males have this, females don't.

Odds are very, very high your female is pregnant. If you have a male and a female together for a day, they female will be pregnant.

On a side note, sounds like you need to find a new place to buy your fish. Try a smaller independant pet shop, I bet you will be much happier with the service selection and assistance.

MM

Answer 2

Buying fourteen fish at one time is just a little too much. You aren't supposed to introduce more than two or three new fish at a time.

PLUS, if you have that many fish, you need to remember that you can only keep one inch of fish per gallon of water, and with platies, goldfish, and other "dirty" fish, you should make that one inch per two gallons. Certain fish produce a LOT of ammonia, and that'll cause problems if there isn't enough room.

The female platy will have a larger caudal fin than the male. (the triangular fin on the bottom of the fish, just in front of the tail). A pregnant female is usually obvious. She'll get round and may show some darkening on the lower belly.

Hope that helps some?

Answer 3

You need to buy you a book on platties or go on line and learn all you can about them.