platies

[snar]

do platies need to be kept in group or can they be kept by themselves?

 

[sylvia]

Well they aren't 'schooling fish' so to speak but I'd never keep them alone myself. However, if you get a mix of males and females, you need to have them so that there are at least 2 females for every male. Otherwise, a same-sex group is fine. A pair of males OR a pair of females, for example, would do fine.

 

[sylvia]

Oh and there's another option for those with at least a 15 gallon - swordtails and platies are pretty much the same in many ways and can inter-breed so, if you don't want 2 platies, get a platy and a swordtail of the same sex.

Again though, there should be at least 2 females to every male regardless of species if you want a mixed group (so 2 female platies to a male swordtail or a female platy and female swordtail to a male swordtail etc) as they do hybridize and the males will go after females of either species. The only downside to swordies is that males get to 3" (compared to 1.5 for platies) and females to 4" so they take up quite a bit of space and realy need at least a 15 gallon but prefferably more.

 

[Kittycat]

Mine seem stressed when they're alone, and more fearful/shy. Better to keep in at least trio...

 

[B75]

When I had my first tank I was given 1 platy, this little chap was on his own for 2 weeks, now 3 years on he is in with 6 platies and thinks he is the leader.