Platy newborns

I usually have Platy babies at 1cm after about 8 days.

What is your water change routine?
What are you feeding them and how often?
Are they getting plenty of light during the day?

Some hints:
The breeding box is too small. I do 10 babies in a 2 gallon container.
Live plants and lots of light. A good growing crop of plants with some
algae (not lots) gives the babies something to graze on between feedings.
Feed 8 times a day first week, 5 times a day after that, small amounts.
I feed a combination of frozen baby brine shrimp, powdered egg yolk, finely
powdered dry food, finely chopped blood worm, and do a 10% water change
about 10 minutes after they are done each feeding with temperature matched
and one day aged water.

The fact they are alive is a good sign. If the breeding tank is in the main
tank you need to make sure you do not have any nitrates in the water.
Nitrates slow fish growth even in small amounts. At the very least I would
be doing two 10% water changes a day making sure the breeding container gets
its share of water exchange.

As long as they have lots of hiding places, plants etc, they will be fine at
about 3/8 to 1/2 inch long not including the tail, if you only have other
Platies, Cory cats, Otocinclus etc in the tank. Tetras, Danios, Barbs, all
are pretty fast and have pretty big mouths and will probably still try and
eat them at that size.

David

hilit <hilitg RemoveThis @hotmail.co.il> wrote in message
news:71627e2c.0308132324.4cee6123@posting.google.com...
> I have Platy newborns, about 3 weeks old now.
> I grow them up in a breeding box, which is 15cm x 7cm x 7cm.
> So far only 1 have died, 15 are still there.
> They are about 1cm long now.
> I would like to know when we can release them to the bigger aquarium
> (not protected)?
> How big should they be until now? How can I assess their progress
> until now?
> They seem to eat well (regular food).
> Thanks!
 >> Stay informed about: Platy newborns