Breeder's Award Program

Name: John Satterlee

Scientific Name of Fish: Xiphophorus maculatus

Hobby Name of Fish: Red Wag Platy

Method of Reproduction: Livebearer

Number and Gender Distribution of Parents: 2 male and 2 females

Origin of Parents: Tank Raised

Approximate number of fry: 15

Date of Hatch or Birth: Aug 11, 2022

Date of Free Swimming If Hatched: N/A

Approx. Number of Fry at 30 Days: TBD

Approx. Number of Fry at 60 Days: TBD

Aquarium Conditions:

pH: 7.2

General Hardness: 150 ppm

Average Temperature (72-76 F)

Salinity: none

Average Nitrate: < 40 ppm

Aquarium Size: standard 10 gallon

Water Source: Rockville MD tap water with Seachem Prime

Water Changes: 80% once a month

Filtration System: sponge filter

Additives: ½ cup of crushed coral

Décor:

Live Plants: Water lettuce to keep nitrates down

Spawning mops and sponge filters to provide hiding spots

Substrate: None

Lighting Type and Timing: Home Depot light, 12 hrs on/12 hrs off

Food Fed to Parents and How Often: Tetra Color Tropical Flakes morning and evening. Freshly hatched baby brine shrimp every other day.

Food Fed to Fry and How Often: Finely ground dry fry food morning and evening, Freshly hatched baby brine shrimp every other day.

Additional comments: I have not kept platies previously. The parents were extraordinarily shy and seemed stressed out. I decided to add spawning mops to the tank to provide additional hides to make the parents more comfortable. Once this happened breeding commenced and the spawning mops helped the fry avoid being eaten by the parents.