Post by Cyberguppy on Aug 17, 2005 9:12:32 GMT 10
Unknown author, unknown website:
Moon/Platy
Origin Central America – Mexico and Guatemala
Maximum Size Males smaller than 2 inches, Females slightly larger
Housing 20L aquarium best, 10 okay
Security Not necessary, but likes bushy plants
Temperature 75 to 80o
Attitude Good natured. Eager eater.
Foods Loves all foods
Water Prefers pH above neutral. Add salt.
Gestation Period Six weeks
Number of Young Dozens
Life Span Two years
Origins: Slow moving waters in Mexico and Guatemala contain these perky little blue livebearers. Selective breeding developed the bright reds, golds, hifins, plume-tails, Mickey faces, vari-colored fins and any number of varied and attractive colors in the platies.
Water Conditions: Moons prefer a pH above neutral. Our Des Moines water works great. They also like salt in their water – one teaspoon per gallon. Keep it around 75o although they can stand it colder or hotter.
Size: Most moons average around two inches in length. You usually find them for sale at about 1.5 inches. This means they get along with nearly any other fishes.
Jumpers: Not as bad at leaping as their swordtail cousins, we’d still recommend a good tank cover. Platies will jump out – particularly after water changes.
No Goldfish: Oddly enough, moons don’t mix well with goldfish. They constantly pick, pick, pick at goldfishes -- apparently snacking on their slime coating. When a moon jumps out of his tank and lands in one of our goldfish tanks below, he bugs every goldfish in the tank.
Foods: Moons will eagerly eat whatever you feed them. They need foods with algae in them. They also constantly snack on the algae growing on your tank’s surfaces. Moons also love live foods and frozen foods. They also respond well to those worm flakes that increase their litter sizes.
Saving Fry: If you want baby moons, you need to keep your eyes open. Females release live fry every six weeks. Look for chubby moms with a dark anal area. The “dark” comes from the eyeballs of their babies showing thru. Put the expectant mom in a well-planted 10-gallon tank so the babies can hide. Moon fry taste good – even to their moms. Feed her well.
Fry Foods: Baby moons eagerly eat powdered dry food. They love newly hatched shrimps <Live%20Food,%20BS%20Eggs.htm> – even the frozen ones. They grow best when fed several times a day (up to a maximum of five times). Frequency of feeding is more important than type of food. Put in some big snails to clean up the excess.
Filtration: Baby moons need clean water. Power filters will suck them up. Not all survive the trip thru the impeller. Use an under gravel or sponge filter.
Moon/Platy
Origin Central America – Mexico and Guatemala
Maximum Size Males smaller than 2 inches, Females slightly larger
Housing 20L aquarium best, 10 okay
Security Not necessary, but likes bushy plants
Temperature 75 to 80o
Attitude Good natured. Eager eater.
Foods Loves all foods
Water Prefers pH above neutral. Add salt.
Gestation Period Six weeks
Number of Young Dozens
Life Span Two years
Origins: Slow moving waters in Mexico and Guatemala contain these perky little blue livebearers. Selective breeding developed the bright reds, golds, hifins, plume-tails, Mickey faces, vari-colored fins and any number of varied and attractive colors in the platies.
Water Conditions: Moons prefer a pH above neutral. Our Des Moines water works great. They also like salt in their water – one teaspoon per gallon. Keep it around 75o although they can stand it colder or hotter.
Size: Most moons average around two inches in length. You usually find them for sale at about 1.5 inches. This means they get along with nearly any other fishes.
Jumpers: Not as bad at leaping as their swordtail cousins, we’d still recommend a good tank cover. Platies will jump out – particularly after water changes.
No Goldfish: Oddly enough, moons don’t mix well with goldfish. They constantly pick, pick, pick at goldfishes -- apparently snacking on their slime coating. When a moon jumps out of his tank and lands in one of our goldfish tanks below, he bugs every goldfish in the tank.
Foods: Moons will eagerly eat whatever you feed them. They need foods with algae in them. They also constantly snack on the algae growing on your tank’s surfaces. Moons also love live foods and frozen foods. They also respond well to those worm flakes that increase their litter sizes.
Saving Fry: If you want baby moons, you need to keep your eyes open. Females release live fry every six weeks. Look for chubby moms with a dark anal area. The “dark” comes from the eyeballs of their babies showing thru. Put the expectant mom in a well-planted 10-gallon tank so the babies can hide. Moon fry taste good – even to their moms. Feed her well.
Fry Foods: Baby moons eagerly eat powdered dry food. They love newly hatched shrimps <Live%20Food,%20BS%20Eggs.htm> – even the frozen ones. They grow best when fed several times a day (up to a maximum of five times). Frequency of feeding is more important than type of food. Put in some big snails to clean up the excess.
Filtration: Baby moons need clean water. Power filters will suck them up. Not all survive the trip thru the impeller. Use an under gravel or sponge filter.
