I've Got A 2:1 Ratio Problem

[pumpkinnose]

I just bought 6 platies for my 10 gallon aquarium. 5 Sunburst Red and 1 Panda platy. I have no plan on trying to actually breed them and didn't even think about it happening we usually get goldfish but are tired of them and the last one ruined two filters. I looked at them from seeing a thread on telling the difference between male and female livebearers. After looking at our 6 new family memebers I think I have determined we have 4 males and 2 females which leaves me with a 2:1 ratio. I have a 10 gallon tank (which yes I know is to small for all the fish including my algae eater that I have had for about 3 years now. I don't have room to separate the extra males so their is no aggression in the tank. What should I do?

 

[FishLover4+1]

can you take the males back??? if you're planning to get a bigger tank in the near future you could put the females into a breeding net in the main tank but theyre quite small so shouldnt be in there for too long.

 

[kuri33]

I have two males and 3 female platies. One mom died after giving birth and the males are starting to notice eachother more now. They puff out their gills and spike up their fins. I've ahd them so long that returning them isn't an option for me. I have them in a 29gal tall.

If you can return them, that would be the cheapest plan. I would tank the males back and exchange them for 4 females.

What I'm doing is adding fake plants to try and keep them from seeing each other until the fry get older and I can add more females to the tank. So you can always buy plants, but it may not be very effective.

 

[FishLover4+1]

if they act fine around each other you can leave them i suppose but there is always the risk theyll fall out.

 

[Em29]

I have never seen my platies fight at all. I was surprised when I read about other people having problems. Mine have always been very peaceful. I started out with 3 males and 3 females (i was unaware of sex and very new to fish) and they were all fine. I ended up 3 males and 2 females and have never ever seen any disharmony.

I think you should wait it out and if they start to fight just advertise to see if anyone will swap a couple of your males for females ?

 

[pumpkinnose]

My spouse and I decided to return two of the males for some more pandas. It seems that my single female panda was getting harassed by the sunset. She had lost quite a few scales and hid constantly. In exchange I got 1 female and 1 male. I could of waiting till Tuesday and tried to get two females but decided to go ahead and get them while I was there. The female Panda I had seems to be happier and is swimming more around the tank now.

 

[OldMan47]

At 3 and 3 you should keep an eye on things. It is possible that it will work out but you need to watch for the males choosing one female and staying after her constantly. If that happens, you will need to remove at least one of the males.

 

[pumpkinnose]

Ok. Thank you. I haven't noticed any chashing yet out of them but then again it's probably too hot in the tank right now. Thank heavens we have gotten the AC fixed so that should hopefully cool the room off and make the fish happier and my job just a little easier with at least less ice bottle changes in the tank.
Right now it's sitting at 90.

 

[FishBlast]

Ok. Thank you. I haven't noticed any chashing yet out of them but then again it's probably too hot in the tank right now. Thank heavens we have gotten the AC fixed so that should hopefully cool the room off and make the fish happier and my job just a little easier with at least less ice bottle changes in the tank.
Right now it's sitting at 90.

Usually, heat makes fish more aggressive. Well, at least it seems to do that to swordies.
My females just love to chase the male away. Poor guy, got his sword handed to him...