Good amount of platies & swordtails

[Elisabeth83]

I currently have 3 swordtails and 7 platies in my 55 gallon. I also have swordtail and platy fry in other tanks that I'd like to eventually put in the 55 gallon.

So question is how many more platies and swordies can I fit?

edit: Of course I know the 1 inch per gallon rule etc etc..I guess I am just wondering how others who keep swordtails and platies stock their tanks.

 

[cheekeyarab]

I know this isn't related to what you were asking but have you thought about adding something different? Kribs are lovely and I would definitely have some if I had the room.
I am sure other members will have tons more suggestions for different species if you were interested.

However I am not sure how good an idea it would be to allow your fish to inbreed (presuming they are the fry from your current fish) I have read discussions on this with regards to guppies so perhaps somebody else will say if it is a problem in platies/swordtails. I would be interested to know.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

What type of fish do you want in the tank? Only livebearers?

If so, you could get upwards of twenty comfortably, IMO. This won't make for a very stunning tank, and will soon become overcrowded, of course, unless you are planning to use breeding traps or not putting in hiding places for your fish.

 

[Elisabeth83]

What type of fish do you want in the tank? Only livebearers?

If so, you could get upwards of twenty comfortably, IMO. This won't make for a very stunning tank, and will soon become overcrowded, of course, unless you are planning to use breeding traps or not putting in hiding places for your fish.

In the 55 I'm only going to be keeping swordtails and platies. I keep salt in the tank so theres not much else I can keep in there with them.

When the fry I have now are all grown up (pretty much are) I wont be raising anymore fry at least not for a very long time. I need a break So it wont really matter if they inbreed as the fry will get eaten in the 55 pretty quickly. In fact that was what was going on for most of the day today. My swordy gave birth yesterday and I counted about 16 in there and now I can't spot one.

 

[Polardbear]

I guess stunning is in the eye of the beholder. (Both my big tanks are swordies only!) I try to keep the population of swordies in my 55 gallon at about 15. There's probably room for another 5 or so but I like to leave room in case I find some that I can't live without. I also don't like to overcrowd since they are so susceptible to columnaris. If you want to keep in the 20 - 25 range just make sure that you really stay on top of water changes/gravel vacs and not overfeeding.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Yeah I agree I think a tank of just swordies, platies or mollies is very stunning I think once the swordy fry are all grown up in the 30 gallon I'll move the adult swordies to that tank and keep only platies in the 55 gallon.

I wonder if there are only platies in the 55 gallon how many I can keep in there comfortably without it becoming overcrowded? Most only reach 2-2.5 inches and my adults are about that size. Maybe 20 or so?? I've got 10 in there now. I moved 3 fry over the other day. They are all grown up now

 

[afireinside]

swordtails: around 6
platies: around 5

 

[Elisabeth83]

swordtails: around 6
platies: around 5

Sorry I'm not sure what you mean? Were you talking about how many I can fit? The tank I am talking about is a 55 gallon.

 

[afireinside]

i'm assuming the fish r gonna get to there ful size.

 

[GSD]

platies do better in resh water really and dont need slat in theire water to be happy.Its mollies which need the slat to live longer

 

[afireinside]

he's not putting mollies in.