Thinking Of Platies..

[Dibari]

I've been doing some research, and the more I see the cute little platies, the more I think I want a few..


The little label in Petsmart says they need 1+ gallon.. I have a 2.5 and a 3 gallon, so I was wondering if I could have two, in my 2.5 or 2 or 3 in my 3 gallon.. But I'd like to know if they need more than 2, etc etc, like cories - Who need 6.
I am also unsure of how to sex them.. Something about anal fins?
Anywho, I also have a 10 gallon with 7 guppies and 3 shrimp (Going to upgrade again to a 12 one day...)
So, any general info from people who own them? Little details I should know?
Any info would be appreciated.. Thanks again!

 

[theotheragentm]

They are pretty hardy fish. You can keep them in the same environment as your Guppies, assuming the Guppies are doing well. Platies can be solitary fish. In your 2.5, I would leave it to one fish. You could do two in a 3 gallon if you kept up with water changes, possibly three if you got Dwarf Platies. They stay smaller as their name indicates. The problem with getting any livebearers is they are often already pregnant when you buy them. That means they can give birth up to six more times, even without a male. Since the fish are so abundant as livebearers, you might want to request some on Craigslist locally so you can ensure you have just females that are virgin. People should be pretty willing to part with the normal varieties as they breed like crazy.

See how the males anal fin is pointed? When you have young fish, they all look female, so be sure they are at least two months old. That's when you can start to sex them. That's another reason to get them from a local fishkeeper.

 

[piratedninja]

1 platy will need at least 2 gallons, i would suggest getting another 10gallon tank for platies because 2-3 gallons definately wont be enough because you should have at least 3 platies together in a tank to keep them happy

you generally need 1 gallon for ever 1in of fish and since platies are about 2 inches long you will need 2 gallons of water per platy
this goes for all fish including guppies, maybe you should get a bigger tank for the guppies and shrimp (maybe a 20gallon)
and put like 5 platies in the 10gallon

 

[K.J.]

I wouldn't put one in any less than a ten gallon; seeing how active they are, it would be better.

 

[Dibari]

Thanks for all the posts, everyone!

They are pretty hardy fish. You can keep them in the same environment as your Guppies, assuming the Guppies are doing well. Platies can be solitary fish. In your 2.5, I would leave it to one fish. You could do two in a 3 gallon if you kept up with water changes, possibly three if you got Dwarf Platies. They stay smaller as their name indicates. The problem with getting any livebearers is they are often already pregnant when you buy them. That means they can give birth up to six more times, even without a male. Since the fish are so abundant as livebearers, you might want to request some on Craigslist locally so you can ensure you have just females that are virgin. People should be pretty willing to part with the normal varieties as they breed like crazy.

See how the males anal fin is pointed? When you have young fish, they all look female, so be sure they are at least two months old. That's when you can start to sex them. That's another reason to get them from a local fishkeeper.

The dwarf ones were the ones that said 1+ gallon, right? How big do they get, entirely?
I would love to have one or two females in a 3 gallon.

 

[Dibari]

1 platy will need at least 2 gallons, i would suggest getting another 10gallon tank for platies because 2-3 gallons definately wont be enough because you should have at least 3 platies together in a tank to keep them happy

you generally need 1 gallon for ever 1in of fish and since platies are about 2 inches long you will need 2 gallons of water per platy
this goes for all fish including guppies, maybe you should get a bigger tank for the guppies and shrimp (maybe a 20gallon)
and put like 5 platies in the 10gallon

I'm quite aware of the inch per gallon guide. My guppies have been thus far quite happy and fine in their ten gallon (One of them won't even break 1 inch.. And none of them are at 2 inches, maybe 1.4 ish, so 20 gallons seems a little extreme.. Though I would love to give it to them), but I appreciate the comment anyway.

 

[K.J.]

If I were you, I'd do a couple of platies and a shoal of cories in a 10 gallon. But then again, that's what i've got... tehee.

 

[Dibari]

If I were you, I'd do a couple of platies and a shoal of cories in a 10 gallon. But then again, that's what i've got... tehee.

Well, I'm in a college dorm and have two 10 gallons (soon to be a 12 and a 10) and two three gallons and a 5. I'm pretty much OUT of room. Lol.
So, in lieu of what I've heard and read (And despite dwarf platys being so small) I guess I shall wait on the little dears.
I don't have room for a 10 gallon to make them really happy, and as much as I've heard and read they can be put into 5 gallons or less due to their numbers, I'm a scaredy cat and I think I'll wait till next year when I have an apartment and lots more room.
Thanks so much everyone!

 

[dwarfgourami]

Thie inch/gallon rule is never the end of the stocking story, just the beginning (and even so, platies are messier than say tetras). After that, you need to consider factors like activity levels and sociability. IME platies, while not schooling as such, are social fish and will do much better when kept in the company of other platies (or even guppies as their behaviour is similar). They are also active and curious fish, so you also need to add the tank space for that. I would wait until you can do that 10 gallon.

 

[Dibari]

Thie inch/gallon rule is never the end of the stocking story, just the beginning (and even so, platies are messier than say tetras). After that, you need to consider factors like activity levels and sociability. IME platies, while not schooling as such, are social fish and will do much better when kept in the company of other platies (or even guppies as their behaviour is similar). They are also active and curious fish, so you also need to add the tank space for that. I would wait until you can do that 10 gallon.

Already planning on it. Thanks for the input.