starting a platy tank

[terrorist_124]

hey every1,

the tank is 12 1/2 gallons , it's currently in use by a few swords which will be moved to a bigger tank.
the tank has seen a lot of dieases so i'm going to steralise it and start from scratch.
the tank is going to be planted and have many places to hide.
it has a VERY powerful filter.

how many platies can fit in there?

 

[Annastasia]

If you want just Platies...I'd say 5-6.

Are you getting males and females, or just females, or just males? If you are planning on getting just males, so you don't have fry, I'd be careful. Male Platies can be aggressive with each other...

However, if you want Platies and Cories, or some kind of bottom feeder...I'd say 3-4 Platies.

 

[afireinside]

assuming all ur platies will grow up to be 2 inches, about six. and nothing else.

 

[jungle jim]

Hi if your tank is 12.5gall,that`s just under 57ltrs a tank of 70 ltrs according to my magazine you should have no more than 15 male and female fish

 

[Annastasia]

15 Platies in that tank is going to be way too many. The males may start fighting, and the females will have a lot of males after them, and not much room to get away. I'd say 6 Platies, max. That's if you just want Platies.

Edit: Oh, and I get 12 gallons to be about 45 liters?

 

[jungle jim]

Hi Terrorist 124 update on my last input it should have read a 70ltr tank can hold up to 20male and female platies but your tank should limit the number to around 15.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Hi Terrorist 124 update on my last input it should have read a 70ltr tank can hold up to 20male and female platies but your tank should limit the number to around 15.

That seems like a lot to me I've got a 14 US gallon tank I use for raising fry. Right now it's housing 12 juvenile platies...I can't imagine 15 adult platies in it.

I agree that 5-6 adult platies would be your limit . If your not planning on getting a bigger tank anytime soon then you should probably only get females. If you get males and females you'll soon find yourself overun with fry Also like Annastasia said before a tank of only males will most likely result in lots of agression.

 

[terrorist_124]

thanks evey1,

i'm gonna put in 2 males and 4 females.

i'm not geting only males cause i don't want fights

 

[Annastasia]

Mmmkay, sounds good. Just be prepared for a LOT of fry, and make sure you can raise them and have a place for them to go when they are bigger.

 

[terrorist_124]

i'm not gonig to put a lot of hiding places and let nature take it's course
hopefully a couple will survive

 

[Annastasia]

Ah, okay. Well, if they are not a lot of hiding places for fry...even the last couple may not survive. Probably one or two will, though. Just give the tank SOME hiding places though, because the female Platies will want to try to get away from the males sometimes.

Good luck with the tank!

 

[Angry_Platy]

An inch per fish, platies get to 2 inches, means 6 platies....which you have decided on

Instead of 2 males how about 1 male with 5 females.....will reduce any aggression!!!

 

[terrorist_124]

thats a good idea platy.
but if the male i get does not like to mate and my females do they won't be happy.

the females will keep pestering the mal to mate when he dosn't want to.

if i have 2 males,more chance 1 will satisfy the females.

 

[Angry_Platy]

My females get more bothered by the males wanting to mate than they do when the males don't want to mate (which rarely happens in my tank).....

I have 3 males and 10 females (platies) and a male swordy (who tries and impregnate the female platies but the males won't let him ).....it is a good balance.....

 

[terrorist_124]

or i can get 1 male and 3 females,and leave the xtra space for the future fry