Compatability

[stucolls]

Hey there, as you can see, I currently have 3 cories, 4 dalmation mollies, 2 dwarf gourami (whom I may exchange for a couple of cory) and 1 RTBS, oh and Hercules and Zeus my super strong babies!!!

what im wondering is if I change the gourami for cories who are obviously smaller, and rehome the RTBS, could I get away with 6 platies? I know its pushing the boundaries a little but I could add a second small filter, but do platies and mollies get along ok? becuase I adore my mollies lol

cheers all

Stu

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

My recommendation is no for the platies...not because I'm a member of the over stocking police, but because if you want to keep Mollies in freshwater they really need to have very good water quality. A good article on Mollies: http/www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/mollies.htm

 

[stucolls]

sorry to sound dumb, but why would the platies mean I had bad water quality??

is it because I would be overstocked? and wouldnt a 2nd filter help?

sorry just wanna be sure?

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Having a second filter helps remove Ammonia faster, gives you a back up filter, etc, but the more overstocked you get the more nitrate you'll have which the filter won't get rid of. You can of course take care of that with keeping up with a good water change schedule.

Mollies are actually more disease resistant in hard akaline tanks with salt (unlike most species that don't need salt), while fish like Corys don't like salt and prefer softer water. Considering this it seems a bit less risky to be extra cautious when overstocking a molly tank. Really up to you though. ^^

 

[orange shark]

mollys survive best in brakish water and are more prone to disease in freshwater,i think you could get away with 6 actally, aslong as the 2nd filter is there

 

[stucolls]

well seeing as the platy are coming from you, you would say that lol

No seriously though, I thought that being fairly easy going fish, both livebearers, they would be compatible, I know mollies like a touch of salt but the cories dont so the mollies will have to go without, unless theyshow signs of really needing it, then I will reconsider.

so

to my original question, are the mollies and platies compatible, except for overstocking and salt? lol

cheers all

 

[orange shark]

I was bieng serious!and yes mollies and platys get on extremely well