platy babies

Question
QUESTION: hi, Im Amie. Im 11 years old and have recently set up a community aquarium.
<heres a brief idea of my aquarium> it was all my idea and my mum and dad said that it was my job to maintain, clean, feed and generally look after. i bought my tank about 2 months ago and my water levels were worrying high after set-up, but after a month of water changes and chemical alterations it was all safe. i started with 2 mini mouse platys (they're great!!!) and then 2 guppies (1 has died of  NTS =[) then 2 golden sucking loaches.
<now then... my problem>
a week ago i took on the task of a pregnant sunset platy. I've bought all the gear and put her into a netted breeder and she has had her first few babies a few days ago. the process is slow and i think she has finished her pregnancy
but her babies are acting strange. there are 7 swimming around but about 15 or so that are just white with black eyes that don't move... are they dead?, premature?, or did the stress of the first few make her abort the pregnancy  therefore killing her remaining fry? I'm really worried so please could or ask someone else for me. if you could find a solution that would be great!
from Amie

PS here is some info on my tank:
i have 3 pieces of bogwood,
7 fake plants,
2cm(min)-5cm(max)of medium gravel,
50x25x30 cm approx,
8.2 UK gallons capacity.

ANSWER: Hey Amie,

The Pregnant mother would not likely abort half way through if the first few were swimming. Likely what happened was this: Your mother is probably a slim and small female, who may or may not have been a little too young to be breeding. The small size of her drop (pregnancy) and the low number of swimming fry (baby fish that lived through the night) is due to the fact that she was not quite ready to bear children. If the white fry dont seem to perk up and move in the next day, take 'em out. Whats likely to happen is they will tip on their side when they die, or will start to float like a normal fish. After about 2-4 weeks in the net (pending how fast or slow they grow, water quality conditions, and what other fish you have) they should be big enough to meet their tank mates without being eaten. If you feel they are growing too slowly, wait upto 8 weeks. As the fry get larger, they will need more space to swim and grow, and at about 1.5 cm each, they should be safe to mix with the fish you listed.

As for your guppies, keep 1 male for every 2-3 females. The females are far more likely to die from stress and shock, but males will become more colorful and beautiful with plenty of females to show off to ;) guppies and platies will both have live young, where most fish lay eggs. So it's kind of exciting to have a bunch of live bearing fish.

Also, whenever you have a pregnant mother, do a water test around the time you think she'll have her babies, and do one the day after! typically, the increased number of bodies (and protein in the diet of any fish lucky enough to eat one or two... or a hundred) will cause the ammonia and nitrite to rise. Typical of pregnancy, you can pick up a bottle of AmQuel to combat the situation or make preventative strikes as well.

Best wishes, and good luck!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi again,
just to say - since i asked my question there has been a big change- i can see no more fry! none are swimming, I've checked everywhere and its just her... would she have eaten them ALL? should i just take her out of the net breeder? RSVP
from Amie

Answer
Hey again,

Eek yes yes! mom should be taken out shortly after you know she's not having any more fry. She will eat the fry as a food source, and from strange instinct. Plus, the net is far too small for long term placement of a large fish. Take her out tonight, and keep her out for a few days.

Sorry I didnt make that more clear earlier! Best wishes.