Will Different Platys School Together?

[Squeegeatc]

As I prepare to move the fish (the first batch go TODAY!) I worry about the platys.   I can't afford to buy 10 more fish to give each of them a proper school.   I feel bad that the red Platy spends all it's time hiding, although the Mickey Mouse doesn't seem to care.  Neither does the guppy, but I am NOT getting more of those!  If I had 3 of each platy, will they school together and feel safe?  I just don't want to overstock this tank. 
 
-Squeek

 

[fluttermoth]

Platies aren't really shoaling, although they do like company of their own kind. All the different varieties are the same species, so they will be company for each other.

 

[blueboy1]

Have have often gone to lfs to buy the fish from the "variety Platy" tank, where I got a Mickey Platy as well as others including a white and pinky red striped one that are fine with each other and enjoy on another company, don't think you need three of each type just how fish shops do it so you get 2 females per male but it's the ration not the colour which is important.

 

[Squeegeatc]

OOHHHh   So I could have 6 DIFFERENT colored platys   Oh I LIKE that idea!  hmmm.......

 

[blueboy1]

That's basically how it is for me, will take pics if you like? They will be fine if they are around same age and even better if they hav been together around same time! Can get lovely coloured ones when they breed

 

[daizeUK]

Platies don't care what colour they are. They don't shoal or school regardless of colour.
Some platies are just born bullies, others are more sociable, pot luck really.

Be careful with your male-female ratio. The usual recommendation is 1:3 male to female but I do not recommend getting 2 males and 4 females because one male is likely to get picked on by the other (I have this situation and one male is deeply stressed). Also I don't recommend 1 male and 5 females either because you will end up with an unstoppable baby boom. I'd suggest either 3 males and 3 females if you want babies or 6 males if you don't.

 

[Squeegeatc]

So they will crossbreed as well as school together?  Wow!  I just learned how to tell the sex, so I need to see what I have left right now.   The MickeyMouse seems perfectly content, so I may just get some more Red Wags.   That one is super skittish.