Platies, Mollies Or Swordtails? That Is The Question!

[Prinmel]

I am a current cichlid tank owner, and just tired of the mean spirit of those fish! I want to go back to a peaceful community tank. I only want to get one species of fish with lots of different colors. I have some questions though in order to help me make my choice.
• Which of the 3 gets the biggest? How big?
• Do they all need salt? How much?
• Are all readily available in at least 4 different colors?

I would really appreciate any information. I have read a lot on web sites but would like to have the info directly from the people who have fist hand experience. I am leaning toward the swordtail, as I have read that it can get to 4 inches, but has anyone ever seen one get that big? Some also say that mollies get 3 to 4 inches, but again, has anyone ever seen one get that big?

THANKS!!!!

 

[Prinmel]

I am a current cichlid tank owner, and just tired of the mean spirit of those fish! I want to go back to a peaceful community tank. I only want to get one species of fish with lots of different colors. I have some questions though in order to help me make my choice.
• Which of the 3 gets the biggest? How big?
• Do they all need salt? How much?
• Are all readily available in at least 4 different colors?

I would really appreciate any information. I have read a lot on web sites but would like to have the info directly from the people who have fist hand experience. I am leaning toward the swordtail, as I have read that it can get to 4 inches, but has anyone ever seen one get that big? Some also say that mollies get 3 to 4 inches, but again, has anyone ever seen one get that big?

THANKS!!!!

 

[roadmaster]

I am a current cichlid tank owner, and just tired of the mean spirit of those fish! I want to go back to a peaceful community tank. I only want to get one species of fish with lots of different colors. I have some questions though in order to help me make my choice.
• Which of the 3 gets the biggest? How big?
• Do they all need salt? How much?
• Are all readily available in at least 4 different colors?

I would really appreciate any information. I have read a lot on web sites but would like to have the info directly from the people who have fist hand experience. I am leaning toward the swordtail, as I have read that it can get to 4 inches, but has anyone ever seen one get that big? Some also say that mollies get 3 to 4 inches, but again, has anyone ever seen one get that big?

THANKS!!!!

I believe it's possible that the reason you don't see many adult mollies and swordtails is because too many folks try to keep them in unsuitable conditions (ie) soft water. The fact that you kept ,or are keeping cichlids,, might lend itself to your water being suitable. pH between 7.5 and 8.0 with 12 to 15 degrees GH.
I have kept some sailfin mollies who did seem to do quite well with salt at the rate of one tablespoon per 5 gallons of water but platys and swordtails while they will tolerate salt,,will do just as well without it in my expierience. Platy's and swordtails also prefer much cooler water than the mollies like with temp of 75 degrees f being what platys and swordtails consider comfortable and temps between 78 and 82 degrees for mollies and guppies.
Is also worth noting that in all but the larger aquariums,male swordtails don't get along very well with other males when courting activity with females is at hand.
I believe platy's while not being the largest,would offer more color varieties.
A good vegetable based food along with occasional meaty foods such as brine shrimp and bloodworms would suit most of the livebearer's in my view.
Believe mollies to grow a bit larger than the other species you mention.Hope some of this helps.

 

[Twinklecaz]

I don't know about size but if peace and colour are you main concerns then I'd go with Platys. They have loads of different colours and are usually peaceful. Not that I know a lot about Mollie temprement but they need slightly special conditions as Roadmaster said. But then if you're keeping a species only tank then that might not worry you.

The only thing is the breeding.......they will do it and lots of it. You should also keep several females to every male

 

[ewooten78]

I have all three in my tank. The biggest would be swordtails, followed by mollies, then platys. Swordtails that I have are about 4 inches long and mollies are slightly smaller. My platys are about 3 inches long. I use aquarium salt in my tanks mainly because it helps with disease prevention. I add a tablespoon per 10 gallons of water after water changes. I would recommend mollies because they have the most variety. You can choose from all black, dalmation, creamscicle, silver, gold dust (gold and black), and the weird looking balloon mollies. Good luck and let me know what you decide.

 

[Twinklecaz]

LOl I like those balloon ones. I only saw them for the first time a couple of weeks ago!

 

[Prinmel]

ewooten78:
Do all your mollies get that big or just certain kinds? What do you feed them and how often? What is the size and temp of your tank? What kinds of swordtails do you have? Is the 4 inch measurment include the sword or just body of fish? I really want larger fish that have color, that is why I chose the cichlids, but I still think I am leaing toward the swordtails just because they get biggest.
So I want to emulate what you do so that mine might get that big also. How long did it take for yours to get that big? Sorry about the 20 questions I'm just trying to get all the info I can so that I don't end up with a tank full of fish that I am not really that happy with (like the cichlids)
Thanks a ton!

 

[BettaCrazy7]

ewooten78:
Do all your mollies get that big or just certain kinds? What do you feed them and how often? What is the size and temp of your tank? What kinds of swordtails do you have? Is the 4 inch measurment include the sword or just body of fish? I really want larger fish that have color, that is why I chose the cichlids, but I still think I am leaing toward the swordtails just because they get biggest.
So I want to emulate what you do so that mine might get that big also. How long did it take for yours to get that big? Sorry about the 20 questions I'm just trying to get all the info I can so that I don't end up with a tank full of fish that I am not really that happy with (like the cichlids)
Thanks a ton!

Swordtails get about 4 inches not including their swords. If you want your swordtails, or what ever you choose, to grow big give them a good variety of foods with plenty of water changes. Live foods, veggies, and a high quality flake food should help them grow.

 

[fuzzynicki]

I would agree that the most colour variation comes with platys. There are so many different colours available. You can also get hi fin platys which are a lovely addition. I keep mollies and platys. All lovely fish.

 

[fish48]

Molly's can live with or with out salt other common livebearers do not need salt/ available in different colors size Molly's and Swordtails 4=5 inches Platy's 3=4 inches.

 

[airbusa1]

You should have them all a nice community tank. They all go together peacfully(none fight the other species) and they will have numerous colour variations.

 

[fluvial]

I keep all three kinds - and have a Ph of 7.6
I don't add salt and the 2 Black Mollies seem to do fine.
For me the Platies have the most colour variation,
the Swords seem to grow the biggest,
but it looks to me that a black variation stays relatively small
in size.
My 2 black Mollies are smaller than the other colours I see in the LFS,
and i have 1 black sword which is considerably smaller than the 2 tuxedo
(orange and black) swords that I have.

I feed them brine shrimp, bloodworm, and flake food.
They also get to nibble on the veggie pellets dropped for the bottom dwellers,
and there is plenty of algae growing as well (unfortunately)

 

[OldMan47]

In a peaceful tank, you are looking for platies. I love my mollies but I am well aware that some are not very peaceful. With pet shop swordtails, males can be quite aggressive with other males. That leaves platies of the 3 you specified. If you want something with lots of colors and patterns available, platies have been bred to have lots of fin variations and many color patterns.
My own preference is wild type fish, but a single species of those is all one color and all one fin shape, not a big variety like you can achieve with platies.