BAP Report from: Benjamin E. McGrew
Video Journal
Species
Xiphophorus maculatus
Platy (Female Sunburst Mickey Mouse / Male Sunburst Wag)
Reproduction
Method of Reproduction: Livebearer
Number and Gender Distribution of Parents: Single Pair
Origin of Parents: Tank Raised (Purchased from LFS)
Approximate number of fry: 11
Date of Birth: (06/26/2019)
Approx. Number of Fry at 30 Days: 11
Aquarium Conditions
pH — ca. 7.3-7.6
GH — 7 (125.3 ppm)
KH — 3 (53.7 ppm)
Temperature: 79-degrees Fahrenheit in tank, 74-degrees F in fry container
Average Nitrate: 10-15 ppm
Aquarium Size: in inches, 10 X 20 X 12 — standard 10 Gallon aquarium
Water Source: town / city water
Water Changes: 50-60% 1x per week
Filtration System: basic hang-on-back, with additional small sponge filter
Décor & Environment
Live Plants: Ludwigia Repens, Amazon Sword (small), Java Fern
Caves or Similar Hiding Places: “Dragon Stone” cave
Substrate: Tan, generic Pea-sized gravel
Lighting Type and Timing: two low-light LED strips, one came with 10 Gal.
kit, the other bought from WalMart and attached to the lid underside
with zip ties. Lights are on for 14 hours, from 7 am to 9 pm
Feeding
Food Fed to Parents and How Often: 2x / day — mixture of live baby brine
shrimp that we hatch, Fluval Bug Bites, and Cobalt Fry Minis
Food Fed to Fry and How Often: 2x-3x / day — first weeks, mixture of Sera
Micron powder mixed with tank water, and baby brine shrimp that we
hatch; after two weeks, we feed same foods to fry as parents, in
smaller amounts
Photographs
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_831b066b801745ae8010c247077eb8f1~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_27,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_831b066b801745ae8010c247077eb8f1~mv2.png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_33479890ee6c4557aeae0934f65681c8~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_27,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_33479890ee6c4557aeae0934f65681c8~mv2.png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_4a800a9979364403a73c85054d45fde0~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_27,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_4a800a9979364403a73c85054d45fde0~mv2.png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_908fca022e6b4cfea1d5bbd43f12de22~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_28,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_908fca022e6b4cfea1d5bbd43f12de22~mv2.png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_73168de1f7924b20a3197a649739a48e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_28,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_73168de1f7924b20a3197a649739a48e~mv2.png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_e24a3511d7094049b64a9eebb3de236c~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_27,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_e24a3511d7094049b64a9eebb3de236c~mv2.png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_34531df8ee384c7088f42eec643b8ec5~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_27,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_34531df8ee384c7088f42eec643b8ec5~mv2.png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_e1ed85161b214bbe896de77d1ac75750~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_27,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_e1ed85161b214bbe896de77d1ac75750~mv2.png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_485efb65d1a748f08589f219639becae~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_28,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_485efb65d1a748f08589f219639becae~mv2.png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_f2108d8750944a06a559d58b41926b4e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_28,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_f2108d8750944a06a559d58b41926b4e~mv2.png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a27d24_d64d03e9256c439bb26dfa7add166ff3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_27,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/a27d24_d64d03e9256c439bb26dfa7add166ff3~mv2.png)
Comments and Additional Information
We built a small rig using a critter container with unequally drilled holes, and airline attached. Air lifts water from the 10-gal tank up one hose into the fry container, and a lower outflow hose returns water down to the tank. This keeps fry separate from the parents without dramatically changing the water chemistry. The water temperature is about 5-degrees Fahrenheit cooler in the rig than in the tank.
A small sponge filter was added to the tank before transferring the month-old fry over from the small fry rig. This was to help account for the greater bio load.
A young long-finned albino bristle nose pleco was added to help moderate some of the algae build up . . . and because we plan to breed plecos eventually, and were eager to find this variety.
The fry vary slightly from both parents in darkness of orange-yellow coloration, and in the tail patterning. This may change with growth and maturation.
Hello Dave and Ben,
This is to confirm that you will be awarded an additional 5 points for your detailed video submission for a total of 15 points.