Platties, Male To Female Ratio

[stackem evs]

Hi, I know that basically you need a ratio of about 1 male to 2 female (currently have 3) looking at getting another 6, will it be best to get 2 males and 4 females, or just 1 male and 5 females (give them a quietier life)?

Also if they do breed in a community tank, and survey, would the ratio be expected to be 50/50 male to female? And if so would it be best to introduce more females into the tank?

Thanks

 

[dwarfgourami]

For the first half of your question, I think either would work. Possibly 1 male gives the best chances of an ideally peaceful life.

For your second half of the question- the sex ratio of the fry can vary: some people have suggested that it is affected by either temperature or ph (very alkaline water=more females, which seems to hold true for me).

By the time your fry are sexable, you should either sell them or get the means to separate them by sexes. Are you familiar with the concept of exponential growth? If not, you will be after 6 months. Remember that each one of your females will go on dropping fry every month or so. Assuming you get 50 survivors out of each collective batch, assuming half of them are female, after a few months these females will also be dropping fry, and then their fry will be reproducing..... What you hope and pray for in this situtation is that they will not all survive.

 

[stackem evs]

For the first half of your question, I think either would work. Possibly 1 male gives the best chances of an ideally peaceful life.

For your second half of the question- the sex ratio of the fry can vary: some people have suggested that it is affected by either temperature or ph (very alkaline water=more females, which seems to hold true for me).

By the time your fry are sexable, you should either sell them or get the means to separate them by sexes. Are you familiar with the concept of exponential growth? If not, you will be after 6 months. Remember that each one of your females will go on dropping fry every month or so. Assuming you get 50 survivors out of each collective batch, assuming half of them are female, after a few months these females will also be dropping fry, and then their fry will be reproducing..... What you hope and pray for in this situtation is that they will not all survive.

Thanks for the answer about ratio's, think it will be the 1 and 5.
For the second, you are giving me an idea of whats expected. Although not considered before the idea of expnential growth is a scarey thought (So why do my lfs charge me so much for the little darlings???). Will want to keep the ratio of 1 to 2 for a quality of life. but will not wish the exspansion of the shoal. Whats the answer if they grow that fast? Don't put any food in the tank and let the other fish keep the population down....