A Tasty Snack?

[minkymaid]

Hiya fish friends!

I'm new to the whole fishgame, and I wonder if you can help me on this one. Some of the forum users have suggested platys as fish for my tank (so far I have 4 pearl danios and 4 sterbai's catfish). Thing is, I've a lot of plants in my tank and I've read that platys like plants. Some of the plants look a little chewy, but others (with my trained veggie eye) look like they might be mighty tasty if you were a small fish. So, do you know if they will eat cabomba (that looks like the tastiest one) and if they do will they eat it into oblivion our just give it the occasional nibble? Its growing really well so I don't want it all chewed up if I can help it.
Oh and one other thing - noticed that someone's said that platys are really greedy - are they going to join in with my danios and nick all my catfishes' food too?
(Never thought fishkeeping was so similar to looking after a bunch of 5 year old kids at a birthday party (chaotic and futile attempt to instill order and fairness). No wonder I don't have kids! )
have a good weekend!
mm

 

[Annastasia]

Platies aren't big plant eaters. They might graze some alage off of them once in a while, but they won't eat or kill them. No worries with that. They can be greedy, but the Danios should help put them in their place. Also, I'm guessing you feed some kind of sinking food to your catfish? If so, just feed it after you turn the lights out so the Platies won't go for it.

What size tank do you have, and how many Platies are you considering getting?

 

[widgetuk]

I would not worry too much about platy eating plants i have some in my tank and plenty of plants and all they do is pick at the leaves for algie and titbits

 

[dwarfgourami]

Never had a problem with platies eating plants. They were good at cleaning up the brown algae though. I make a point of feeding mine veg a couple of times a week (peas, broad bean etc), but they find even eating lettuce too much like hard work, so not likely to attack the plants.

 

[minkymaid]

What size tank do you have, and how many Platies are you considering getting?

I have a juwel rekord 98litre. not sure how many gallons that is but its 81cm long by 31 cm wide. (incidentally everyone mentions gallons but the books 've read say surface dimentions are more important for fish stocking calculations - whats the difference?)
I was thinking of adding 2 or 3 males (don't want babies 'cos I only live in a small house and can't fit in another tank!) - if they wouldn't fight. I like the look of the red/orange ones with the black tails and fins. Not sure what 'flavour' they are but they look lovely! My local shop doesn't have them, so I would I need to find a specialist supplier, or do you think its reasonable to ask them to buy in such a small amount?
Would 2 or 3 be happy or do I need more?
love mm

 

[dwarfgourami]

Three is probably better than two; just in case one turns out to be a bit of a bully, spreads the aggression a bit. Not that platies are hugely aggressive fish, but they can bully. They are not schooling fish, but they do like company.

 

[Annastasia]

It's about 25 gallons which is a good sized tank. I'd go for 5, since it seems you have room. With two and three, you can have one bully the other or have two gang up on one. 5 seems to be the magic number with males. To cut down on aggression, make sure there are hiding spaces and plants and such so they can all have their little territory. Also, make sure they all get food.

Good luck!