red mickey mouse platy

Question
hi used to have two micky mouse platys one red and the other gold well the gold one died probly last december i never new their gender untill today well i only know ones gender she is a girl and rather fat even before he or she died and i wass wondering if she is preagnat or fat and if she can have babies with out the maleand how long the preagnacey is or any thing else about the well know what??Ihave been wanting to get a male to mate her to have babies and woundering if u had any tips or knew if she already was preagnat that would be great . thanku Sharitee

Answer
Hi Sharitee;

Female platies can have babies for several months after being separated from the male. Usually babies are born every 4 to 6 weeks or so when a male is with her, but if he's gone she could just randomly have a litter or two. She will have a dark triangular area on her flanks called a "gravid spot" if there are babies inside. Here is a link to more information about breeding livebearing fish such as platies;

http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=13664

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins