Need a final solution for Red Wag Tail Platies population explosion

[weejoy]

Hi
My red wagtail platies have produced 7 fry which are now 3 weeks old. The
trouble is I do not want nor cannot keep all these platies. I was hoping
that nature would take it's course and the adults would have eaten the fry
by now but they haven't. I'm surprised these little ones have survived.

I don't want them and don't have any body to whom I can give them. If I put
them in my betta tank will he eat them? Or would they just take over his
tank as well? Any advice re culling the herd would be gratefully received,
alternatively if there is anybody in north county san diego who would like
some free adolescent platies I would be happy to give them to you.

sincerely

[Mary Burns]

My 2 female platies were pregnant from LFS, and I didn't know any better as
they were my first fish, and I now have 20, sunset and redwag types. I have
2 angels (good size at 1 and half " body size) who have helped to keep the
population at 19 but I have just seen another one!!! They certainly ate a
few newborn fry despite being slow and graceful usually but they can move at
great speed if "live" food is there.I got a 65 gall tank to house my platies
as I really like them, but another problem arises as there are 9 boys and 10
girls so far. The latest one has escaped 2 hungry angels and 11 platies that
are now big enough to have eaten it. Don't forget they can have fry for a
few months, one of my females has had 3 lots of fry over 4 months and still
looks pregnant!!!
Your betta may eat them, that really depends on their own personality. I was
so releived when all the fry were girls until some changed to boys at 4
months. They were either late bloomers or simply changed sex to overwhelm
me.
Your LFS may take extra from you.
"weejoy" > wrote in message
...
> Hi
> My red wagtail platies have produced 7 fry which are now 3 weeks old. The
> trouble is I do not want nor cannot keep all these platies. I was hoping
> that nature would take it's course and the adults would have eaten the fry
> by now but they haven't. I'm surprised these little ones have survived.
>
> I don't want them and don't have any body to whom I can give them. If I
> put them in my betta tank will he eat them? Or would they just take over
> his tank as well? Any advice re culling the herd would be gratefully
> received, alternatively if there is anybody in north county san diego who
> would like some free adolescent platies I would be happy to give them to
> you.
>
> sincerely
>

[Aidan Grey]

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 15:32:31 -0800, weejoy wrote:

>Hi
>My red wagtail platies have produced 7 fry which are now 3 weeks old. The
>trouble is I do not want nor cannot keep all these platies. I was hoping
>that nature would take it's course and the adults would have eaten the fry
>by now but they haven't. I'm surprised these little ones have survived.
>
>I don't want them and don't have any body to whom I can give them. If I put
>them in my betta tank will he eat them? Or would they just take over his
>tank as well? Any advice re culling the herd would be gratefully received,
>alternatively if there is anybody in north county san diego who would like
>some free adolescent platies I would be happy to give them to you.
>
>sincerely
>
>

If he can catch them, and they are small enough, then he will eat them. A
betta is definitely a carnivore.

There will only be a problem if you wait too long, and they get too big
for him to catch.

Aidan Grey

[weejoy]

I tried one and after about 5 minutes of hijinks the betta managed to do the
deed, looks like he has a weeks worth of live food coming to him.

"Tho' Nature, red in tooth and claw
With ravine, shriek'd against his creed"



"Aidan Grey" > wrote in message
ink.com...
> On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 15:32:31 -0800, weejoy wrote:
>
>>Hi
>>My red wagtail platies have produced 7 fry which are now 3 weeks old. The
>>trouble is I do not want nor cannot keep all these platies. I was hoping
>>that nature would take it's course and the adults would have eaten the fry
>>by now but they haven't. I'm surprised these little ones have survived.
>>
>>I don't want them and don't have any body to whom I can give them. If I
>>put
>>them in my betta tank will he eat them? Or would they just take over his
>>tank as well? Any advice re culling the herd would be gratefully
>>received,
>>alternatively if there is anybody in north county san diego who would like
>>some free adolescent platies I would be happy to give them to you.
>>
>>sincerely
>>
>>
>
> If he can catch them, and they are small enough, then he will eat them.
> A
> betta is definitely a carnivore.
>
> There will only be a problem if you wait too long, and they get too big
> for him to catch.
>
> Aidan Grey
>
>
>

[Dick]

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 23:49:55 GMT, "Mary Burns"
> wrote:

>My 2 female platies were pregnant from LFS, and I didn't know any better as
>they were my first fish, and I now have 20, sunset and redwag types. I have
>2 angels (good size at 1 and half " body size) who have helped to keep the
>population at 19 but I have just seen another one!!! They certainly ate a
>few newborn fry despite being slow and graceful usually but they can move at
>great speed if "live" food is there.I got a 65 gall tank to house my platies
>as I really like them, but another problem arises as there are 9 boys and 10
>girls so far. The latest one has escaped 2 hungry angels and 11 platies that
>are now big enough to have eaten it. Don't forget they can have fry for a
>few months, one of my females has had 3 lots of fry over 4 months and still
>looks pregnant!!!
>Your betta may eat them, that really depends on their own personality. I was
>so releived when all the fry were girls until some changed to boys at 4
>months. They were either late bloomers or simply changed sex to overwhelm
>me.
>Your LFS may take extra from you.

Sneeky these late bloomers. I love your story. I have separated my
live bearers by sex, but missed one. I chased the male for 2 days,
but couldn't catch it. I finally moved the 2 females since I was able
to catch them. During the chase I discovered two more young platties
probably a month old. There they are, can't see them, don't know
their sex in their with this juvenile sex monster just waiting (I
hope) for the them to to mature. I just hope both are males.

dick

>"weejoy" > wrote in message
...
>> Hi
>> My red wagtail platies have produced 7 fry which are now 3 weeks old. The
>> trouble is I do not want nor cannot keep all these platies. I was hoping
>> that nature would take it's course and the adults would have eaten the fry
>> by now but they haven't. I'm surprised these little ones have survived.
>>
>> I don't want them and don't have any body to whom I can give them. If I
>> put them in my betta tank will he eat them? Or would they just take over
>> his tank as well? Any advice re culling the herd would be gratefully
>> received, alternatively if there is anybody in north county san diego who
>> would like some free adolescent platies I would be happy to give them to
>> you.
>>
>> sincerely
>>
>

[Kay]

weejoy wrote:
> Hi
> My red wagtail platies have produced 7 fry which are now 3 weeks old. The
> trouble is I do not want nor cannot keep all these platies. I was hoping
> that nature would take it's course and the adults would have eaten the fry
> by now but they haven't. I'm surprised these little ones have survived.
>
> I don't want them and don't have any body to whom I can give them. If I put
> them in my betta tank will he eat them? Or would they just take over his
> tank as well? Any advice re culling the herd would be gratefully received,
> alternatively if there is anybody in north county san diego who would like
> some free adolescent platies I would be happy to give them to you.
>
> sincerely
>
>

You can let them grow up alittle and give them to a petstore.

Kay