Platys

[battersby81]

OK this is gonna sound really strange.
I'm new to tropical fish but have already become obsesed!
I bought 6 platys at my lfs. Checking thoroghly that they were all females, I thought one was male, but after careful inspetion he IS a she.
So 6 females, right? All the same underbellys.
I decided to spice things up a little and booked 2 male platys from lfs, Seeing that yes there really is a definate difference between the sexes (the wagging from side to side really gives it away!)
So I go to lfs today to pick up males, low and behold i get home and 2 of my female platys are now male,?
What is going on? I'm really confused and really dont think i overlooked it, I've been practically studing them the last week or so.
Please any advice would be great, even if it is that i'm just a novice and have bad eyesight!

 

[helterskelter]

All platies look female when their young and only sex out from 3-6 months of age.

Late sexing males will sex out quicker if their no males around, so if u got 6 females, but one was a young male he'll sex out quickly.

 

[battersby81]

ah i see, thanks

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I'm not sure if you know but keep the ratio 2 to 3 females to every male. If you dont have enough females the males will harass the females constantly and stress them .Good luck

 

[battersby81]

that was the plan when i went to get the 2 males! but i guess i'll need more females now.
i have a 90l (20g) tank, 26" long can i hold more platys? i now have 8 and a rainbow shark.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Well there are varying opinions on how many fish your tank can hold-its not just volume but more importantly the surface area of your water in contact with the air which ultimately determines how many fish it can hold-see elsewhere on the sight to find out how many-i would think about a baby tank or another tank to hold all your babies you will undoubtably have!