Companions For My Platies

[P&J]

Hello! I have a 20G tank with 2 male red wag platies as the only residents. They seem to get along so far, but they do chase each other now and then. When it's time for more fish, should I consider an additional one or two platies? I would rather not get females because I don't think I can take care of the fry, nor do I have space for all of them. I had heard before that a group of males works, because you won't end up with one picking on another all the time.

Also, would non-platy tankmates be a better idea than more platies? In the end, I know I will want more than just platies in there, so short-term and long-term suggestions are welcome.

Thanks for any help! This forum has been a great wealth of info for me already with my new tank.

--P

 

[radioman]

PLatys are a schooling fish so you might want more. If you have females and males make sure the females outnumber the males. I have 3 males and 1 male and fry are never a problem because they get eaten. Some good tank mates that are always good and very friendly are tetras.

 

[P&J]

They're schooling fish? Everything I had read about them said they like company, but aren't schooling fish like tetras. That's why I went for 2 originally, but I've heard that 3 or 4 would reduce the potential for bullying.

 

[big-george91]

You should add some females in there, swordtails get along fine with platies but are slightly larger it really depends on what you want in there if i were you get some dwarf gouramis

 

[dwarfgourami]

I would disregard Big George's advice (sorry, George). There's no reason to add females if you don't want fry, and swordtails are on the large/fast side for a 20 gallon tank.
I would either add 3 more platies or a group of cories.