Has anyone ever seen a BLUE mickey mouse platy?

[jordonsmum]

I've never seen it before. It was the coolest thing. Blue mickey mouse platy's and they were actually blue. BEAUTIFUL!

[Melody]

Yup, the blues have been around for a bit - I think there's a pic of Blaine's in the photo section. Some aren't as nice as others though - sounds like you found some pretty ones. They seem to get more blue with age so maybe that's why some don't look as nice when you see them in stores.

Bug has really bit you hard again, hmm? ;)

[jordonsmum]

not so interested in the platy's> I just thought it was pretty cool. Had never seen it before.

*I've had to stop focusing on counting the days until Shawn comes home and focus on something else. That will give you an indication that I miss him...LOL*

[Melody]

How long have you been married? Most married people like breaks...lol.

Yup, they are cool indeed. Nature & breeders give us many beautiful fish colors, which makes one wonder why anyone got the damnfool notion to dye & tatoo them :rolleyes: . They're tatooing Mollies now - makes me ill to look at them. Any store I see that garbage in best be prepared to hear it from me - LOUDLY. :mad:

[blainep]

Yup, I've got an adult trio and a few fry now. They are an interesting attractive fish .

A few pics of mine here

http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=509

http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=407

[Melody]

If you can make a reasonable guess at sexing them by the time you ship our box, Blaine, I'd like some females. Or if the store still has them you can make a buck off your store credit and resell....lol. I haven't found really nice ones here yet, probably because my range is so narrow. I'm still waiting for the fry list, incidentally, or did Visa call you? :laugh: I need to know so I can tell the girls we're doing three-way shipping if I order fish. I don't think they love me enough to support me quite yet :nah: .

[jordonsmum]

Melody; It'll be 10 years this June and I'm crazier about him today then I was even then...LOL 4 days until he 's home and then I promise to calm down...LOL :yes: :(

Blainep; NICE fish!! and nice photos.

The guy that I went to see yesterday builds aquariums for businesses and rich people and stocks them. He has a "shop" out behind his house with more than 50 tanks and fish i've never seen before. He gets them from all over canada and the US (i'm green with envy...LOL) Anyway, he was about a 1/2 drive away and he felt bad because I drove out there looking for swords and he didn't have anything I was looking for. Just stantard velvets (which ARE beautiful by the way, just not what i'm hunting for). So he gave me one of these blue micky mouse. I'm very grateful and love her but I have no idea what to do with her or what care she needs. I know swords but not platys. Any care advice you guys have would be much appreciated. ANNNND she has a huge black spot behind her stomach in the gravid spot area and she's quite fat. Does that mean she's preg? He's had her for about 4 weeks and she never dropped. Could it anything else? If she is preg, you guys can HAVE the babies. I really like her but don't want the fry.

[Melody]

Sounds like a nice guy to deal with. You should give him the link for here so we can buy all of his fish....lol.

Bag the fry, ship 'em over - I'll find something to trade for them, always do. I'll share them once they get here. I know Jay wanted some for starters. Thanks for wanting to share :smile: . We have such fine hobbyists around here.

Yup, she's probably about to pop and will bless you with hundreds. Why? Because you don't particularly want them :laugh: . That's the way it goes!

P.S. - Nice to hear about a marriage like that!

[jordonsmum]

What is there usual gestation period? ARe they similar to swords? If that's the case and he's had them 4 weeks, I guess I should be giving her some space?? Will she eat them like my swords?

I'll need any shipping charges taken care of...(I spent my allowance on fish..LOL and someone to tell me how to ship fish as I've only ever sold locally. But other than that.. you guys / gals have dibs.

[Melody]

Absolutely, I wouldn't allow you to pay for the shipping even if you wanted to :smile: . I'll coach you through shipping when the time comes, and I can send you any supplies we need.

Yup, they're like Swords almost exactly. Birth every 4-6 weeks and they'll eat their fry with great enthusiasm. :mad:

[jordonsmum]

Wow, yuck .. remind me again why we like the violent little cannibals so much...LOL :laugh:

[jordonsmum]

I'm trying to take a photo of her for you guys, but she sure doesn't like to sit still for more than a millisecond!!! grrrrrr LOL

[CACAdmin]

That would be great. However, platys are very exuberant little fish. Getting her to stay still?... Good luck!:laugh: (It takes me forever to get pics of my fish and rarely are they good.)

[jordonsmum]

Ok, we're back to I stink as an aquarium photographer again...LOL This just gives a vague idea of colour and you can see the black gravid spot (I think) in one photo. Good luck..lol This time I'm not obsessing because they're all your fry...:laugh: http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_4479.jpghttp://i160.phothttp://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_4474.jpghttp://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_4481.jpgobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_4481.jpg (http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_4481.jpg)

[Melody]

They are definitly blue! You're right Kristy - they're exceptional. Good eye! Thanks for posting the pic's.

[Melody]

Maybe what we'll do is trade some with Blaine and get lotsa fresh genes...lol. I've already started sharing them - Jay is sharing too. I'll send you a box to ship in, along with supplies and a little something in appreciation. I have a thing about accepting freebies - talk about a character flaw :rolleyes: .

She's definitly preggers. Its hard to tell from the pic but I'd say another week to two weeks. Platy's always look huge for a long time before they give birth. Could be wrong though - its been known to happen on a regular basis ;) .

[jordonsmum]

And the fry are AAAALL yours!! LOL I'll take the box but i'd hold off on the appreciation thing until we get her through the delivery...lol Hoping that she's no different than swordtails. If this holds true, we're alllll good!! LOL

So, I've been cycling my 3rd ten gallon. As it is right now. My quarentined female is in the 15 gal all on her own (spoiled) and everyone else is in one of the ten gals (over crowded now. 6 fish in the 1st ten gal. I'm about to take everyone accept for the blue platy out of the 1st 10gal and put them in the new tank to give her peace so she can drop. Wouldn't want those little bundles to get munched.

Forgot how much work this was..LOL still lovin it though!!! Wish me luck!!!
Cheers!
P.S. Just for the record... 3 MORE SLEEPS TILL SHAWN COMES HOME!!!!! (and finds himself out numbered by fish that weren't here before he left... accept for my 15 gal of course.....LOL )

[CACAdmin]

Beautiful blue platy... Thanks for posting the pics.:smile:

Good luck explaining all the fish to hubby when he gets home. Just tell him there are far worse things you could be doing to amuse yourself in his absence.;)

[Melody]

:secret: Mr. CACAdmin, perhaps we could amuse ourselves while waiting for the birth with trying to find a healthy Lyretail female for Ms. JM's box. Or I could send her a nice regular male if she still isn't seeing pregnant bellies by then. Ssssshhhhhhh..... we'll come up with something and surprise her.;)

[fishykisses]

i want fry too!!!

[CACAdmin]

:secret: Melody, shhhhh! I'll PM you.

[Melody]

i want fry too!!!

Well that's the thing about Livebearers, there's always more :laugh: .

[fishykisses]

:yes:

[jordonsmum]

So.. here I am reading all these posts after my last one.. busting a gut laughing and i'm sitting right next to my inlaws temp bedroom. I wonder if they're wondering why the heck I'm killing myself laughing on a fish forum. Wow.. I really need a hobby... Oh wait.. I still have to explain this one to hubby. And thanks CACAdmin... I intend to use just that excuse... I'm sure he'll be relieved that I'm not doing much worse...LOL Although, with the amount of time I seem to be spending with you guys/gals I'm sure he'll feel like i'm cheating on him anyway.... :laugh:

P.S. You might not see me for a few days after the 27th. But i'll be back..:laugh:;)

[Melody]

LOL You're excused, but don't go away for too long, we're just getting used to having your sunny personality around! He's had you for a decade - its our turn. :yes:

[jordonsmum]

Wow.. you love me... you reaaaaaally love me...LOL (jk) I thought you'd have me blocked from here after listening to my obsessing for the past few days... by the way.. is anyone excited about fry yet??? LOL wow, they really are blue... that's still blowing me away.. not so used to seeing blue fish...

You know.. we really need to have a real time chat in this place...LOL

[Melody]

No we do NOT need a real time chat on this place. I'm bad enough NOW.....lol.

Yes we really love you, Platy's or not. Besides, knowing Jay & I you'll end up with more than you send out anyways...lol....I love doing surprise boxes.

As for obsessing, I'm horrible for that, and I overfuss my fish to death sometimes - literally:rolleyes: . The more I want it the more I fuss. I just worried that you'd stress too much over it all and stop having fun.:wideeyed:

[jordonsmum]

I really need to move to the mainland... I wish I had been back into all of this when we went to the Vancouver Aquarium on a family trip about two months ago. I would have visited.

How long do you think I should cycle the new (used actually) 10 gal before I move fish into it. The fish I'm putting in it are unimportant fish that I got just for the purpose of cycling tanks... (wow that sounds cold!!!)

[Melody]

6 weeks is standard for a cycle. You don't need many fish to cycle a 10G. However, you can jump start the process by putting some used filter media from your other tanks into the new one. A handful of established gravel from the other tanks will also help.:smile:

[jordonsmum]

The gravel all used, I have two sponges in all of my filters. I switched one new sponge from the "new" tank with a sponge from one of my current tanks (the healthy one) AAAANNNDD took the old water from the healthy tank when I did it's change and put it in the new tank to start building bacteria.

I think I'm asking the question the wrong way though. What I'm trying to ask is.. I've only had the water in the new tank for about 24 hours but all of the gravel and filter stuff is from my currently used tanks. It's had a chance to even out temp wise and everything is established to get the tank rolling. When is it safe to drop the cycle fish into the new tank. How long does the new water have to be in the "new / used" tank?

Does that even make sense?? LOL I'm so tired.. LOL

[Melody]

Well that's different then...lol. First, the water doesn't help much for beneficial bacteria as there's very little in the water column, but that's just details for next time to save yourself some labour. Second, make sure all of the bubbles have cleared from the glass - that's gassy stuff. Otherwise, with an established filter you'll be ok to dump them in if there's not too many and they're not big waste producers.:smile:

[jordonsmum]

There are two very tiny (nickle size) honey gouramy's (and no they're not agressive). And a Silver Lyretail Molly.

I have run, I'm ACTUALLY working today. The inlaws are keeping the kidlets for the first time EVER so that I can go work. I'm facing a bunch of COLLEGE STUDENTS!!! Wish me luck!!!

[Melody]

All the best!

[Melody]

Back to the Blue Platy's, I was looking for something else and found some Platy's with their names. I know the ones that Blaine has are often referred to as Blue Moon Platy's, but yours seem different to me - different blue, less metalic. I spotted what I think they may be today - Blue Coral Platy's. Could just be a play on common names, but the blue was much like yours.:yes:

[jordonsmum]

HONEEYYY II"MMMM HOOOOMMMME... LOL (I had to tell someone, Shawn's not here to hear it..LOL ) And you guys are the only ones who luv me for my fishy habit... :laugh:

She's pretty blue, I'm not sure how to describe it but she's definetly blue, thanks for sure. Speaking of Mrs. Blue. Wow, I never really stared at her until tonight because i've been all enthrawled with my swords. She is quite the little beachball with a tail. She's actually shaped like a square now. She looks like she'd pop if she got any bigger. Can't say that i've EVERY seen an all black gravid spot before. Does that mean fry will be all black? Only seen black eyes in the past with orange fry.

[Melody]

They'll probably be born dark, but the gravid spot color also depends on the female - some just have darker ones than others. Although what she's carrying and the eyes have an impact, that's not all there is to it.

I'm told that Blue Platy's grow slow and color up slower....lol.....but they're sure worth it. If she's squaring off she's about to make a liar out of me in regards to her due date I'd guess. Make sure there's lots of cover - Platy's are horrible piglets. I feed the fishies before bedtime so they're not so hungry when someone gives birth in the AM. Not sure if it helps but it makes me feel better.

How did the day go?

[jordonsmum]

I wasn't prepared for another preg fish. The only plants that I have are in the quarentine tank. I have TONS of plants in there floating and planted. I'll get more tomorrow. Do you think it's safe for me to take plants from a quarentined tank?

[Melody]

Probably best not to :no: . Got any yarn? Soak it to make sure there's no dye running, make sure its polyester (worsted) and chuck some masses in there. Otherwise, keep the lights out and you should be able to get them before her hunger kicks in if you check often, especially in the morning it seems.

P.S. Don't unravel your Mother-in-law's sweater.

[jordonsmum]

I have tons of yarn .Some white, I don't know what it's made of though... Pretty bad hun, I knit with yard that I don't know what it's made of.

The three cycle fish are now in the newly set up 10 gal.

[Melody]

The only real problem with what kind it is would be that it rots. Since you're not keeping it in there long, that shouldn't be a concern. If you get worried you can always soak & rinse it a few times and give it a whirl. Hopefully lights out will be enough anyways - I always overfuss the cover issue.

You could also try this if you have any plastic pot scrubbers:

http://members.linkopp.com/biz/sandpiper/images/MM-FrySaver.jpg


Just pull one out into a tube. I put those 'Chubbies' pop bottles on one end of mine so it floats, but a scrubber on each end holds it open just as well.

[jordonsmum]

Women, you are a genius! They can fit through those tiny little holes?? Do they live inside for a while?

I'm soooo excited. I now have three tanks with fish in them. I soooo neeeeed a life..lol. Shawn just called and I tried dropping a few hints about the whole (oh by the way there's a new tank in the livingroom , thing) but I totally wimped out...LOL.. All I got out was.. "oh hunny, I'm really big into the fish hobby again and it makes me sooo happy, are you still going to love me when you see the tanks over run by fish tanks?" He said yes, (not knowing of course..LoL ) so I'm going to hold him to his word! LOL

I have my silver molly in the new tank and two honey dwarf gouramis. Some people have told me that they are totally doscile and a few argue that they're aggressive and can't be kept with other fish. They are the most timid two in the tank and hide from their own shadows! Mind you, they're no bigger than a nickle either, the molly is almost double their size.

[Melody]

Yes, I am a genius, but that particular idea wasn't mine....lol....that's just my results from someone else's idea. Found it on the Net somewhere. Yup, the holes are just right. They hide in it like the do plants.

I'm sure hubby will be just fine with it. Its hard being home with kids, especially when the hubby travels. Doing something just for you will make you a better wife & Mom in the end.:smile:

[jordonsmum]

agreed... goodnight all!

[CACAdmin]

After saying I had never seen a blue platy before, today when I was in SuperPet (Richmond), whilst looking for something else, I spotted a tank full of blue platys. For anyone looking for some, these were a silvery blue (very pretty). Sorry, I should have noted the price :Embarassing: for anyone interested (but didn't)... I was in a hurry. . (& already have some dibs on some blue platy fry.;) ).

[Melody]

You've probably walked past them a dozen times - they're usually youngish in stores so they don't have their full color yet.:yes:

[CACAdmin]

You could be right. Actually, I noticed them because they looked silver and I'm starting to get silver fry so have an eye for that at the moment. (Always wondering what else I can cross with mine to get the results I want. ;) (What can I say, I'm obsessed. :laugh: )

[Melody]

This would be a kicker - your silvers might turn out to be blues. :D

[CACAdmin]

:rofl:

[Melody]

Come to think of it, if your Plumetail Fathered them, that could very well be the case - he had what looked like green in him if I recall correctly, and so do a lot of the blues.:D

[CACAdmin]

How can you remember fish so accurately? I even had to go look.:laugh: Actually, he had a little blue/green in him if you look closely. Now, what's funny is that my female (currently pregnant with her first brood since I got her) has a fair bit of blue highlights in her. So now I can't wait for the fry to see what I get. I'm pretty sure he is the papa (she hasn't seemed to give the slightest nod to any other males in the tank.)

[jordonsmum]

aaahhh doesn't matter either way... LOL you'll have LOTS of blue fry to cross with soon... he he he *chuckle* I really wish you guys / gals could be here to see her. It's almost unexplainable how blue she really is. But I suppose you'll see soon enough... ;)

[Melody]

Cut that out before you talk me into parting with one of my female Lyres in a trade for her :laugh: . I'm getting some from Blaine too so we'll have lots of beautiful blue blood in our tanks soon!

[jordonsmum]

That's ok Mel;) I'm just waiting for your fry to become avail and then going to snatch some up! I CAN"T WAIT!!!!! How long again??? (tee hee hee)

[Melody]

Could be Christmas :mad: . Honestly, I think this gestation thing for Swordtails only applies if you're not waiting for them to give birth. I have so many that look like barrels that I can't decide who to put into brooders, so they'll just have to wing it.

Its too bad they take so long to show the lyre, grow-out space can be quite an issue.:wideeyed:

[jordonsmum]

Well, if you're willing ot part with any before they show their Lyres, I don't mind taking my chances. Up to you..:smile: Maybe by then if I can get things straightened out over here I'll finally get some of my own. I haven't paid much attention to my healthy female over the past few days because of all of the havoc. I looked at her this morning to check for any signs of illness and it's weird. She seems to have "grown" and her gravid spot looks bigger and darker to me (again, could be my imagination and high hopes) but the sick one looks the same as she did when this all started. She still looks like she has orange "eggs" in her gravid spot but doesn't look any bigger. I dunno... I'm trying to think the worst so I don't get my hopes up. I'd just be happy at this point if I saved everyone and was able to breed them in the future when this is all over. That's where my focus is now. Wish me luck:(

[Melody]

Well the good news is that any regular males that result will still pack some awesome lyre genes. The lyre trait is visible, but they can still carry related genes like the spreaders that make for a big, well spread Lyre. I have to grow out the majority so I can select the best to continue the lines, but I'm sure I can part with a few for an old partner in lyres when the time comes ;) .

Hoping everyone is well and producing for you soon!