Can platy fish live alone?
Yes
. While platies do seem to enjoy the company of their own kind, they don’t tend to school together in a tight group unless they think you’re about to feed them.
Do platys need to be in groups?
Platies generally thrive in small groups of about five fish
. They will do well in most community tanks, and a group of platies will also create a beautiful single-species tank.
How many platies do I need?
| Aquarium capacity in gallons Recommended number of platies | 10 5 | 11-20 8 | 21-40 12 | 40+ 18 |
|---|
Platies are social, peaceful fish
that does best when kept in small groups. When you’re buying a Platy, make sure to get at least a pair if not more. Their suitable tankmates are other non-aggressive small species. Potential candidates include Guppies, Mollies, Tetras, Danios or Zebras, to name a few.
How long does a platy live?
This depends on a lot of different variables (food, aquarium water parameters, etc), but on average they live for
2 – 3 years
. Temperament / Behavior : This is a good tropical fish for the beginner. A common question on the forum is “are platies aggressive”. In general, they are a very peaceful fish.
Do platys like current?
Platy can survive a good current
, but the ones I have seem to thrive better when you can tame it down. Not familiar with the Top Fin 40, so not sure yet how you could tame the output.
What do platys like in their tank?
Platy fish prefer
water on the alkaline side
. Plants should be hardy and able to tolerate similar water conditions. Ideal plants include hornwort, duckweed, and java moss. Create the ideal environment with plants, a gentle filtration system, and clean water with moderate hardness.
Are platys top dwellers?
Platy fish eat a variety of foods and
as long as you maintain the right balance of diet, they will remain top and bottom feeders
. The popularity of this fish is generated by many factors but first of all, people approach platy fish because it is extremely easy to look after and requires almost no experience.
Can bettas live with platys?
In most cases, it will be fine for your betta to live with platies
. However, the bottom line is that it’s going to depend on your betta and how aggressive they are. If you think that your betta has the right personality then platies can be a great choice.
What temperature do platys like?
Temperatures
between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit
are ideal for platys. Temperature and water fluctuations are tolerated by them, although rapid changes in water parameters should be taken into consideration. Changes like these can be stressful, therefore they should be avoided.
What do platies eat?
Platies are omnivores in the wild, and eat
plants, algae, insects and small crustaceans
. This diet should be reproduced as closely as possible in the home aquarium, and that be accomplished through feedings that consist of a high quality flake food and live or frozen foods.
What can live with platys?
Many aquarists think Bettas need to be kept by themselves because they are far too mean to live in a community tank. The truth is that male Bettas are only vicious towards one another.
Bettas make great Platy tank mates and can even be kept with groups of females in a Betta sorority
!
Can platies live with guppies?
So Can Guppies And Platies Live Together? To answer the question,
YES guppies can definitely live together
. However, you will need to make sure that you make sure the tank is habitable for both of them, otherwise some problems may arise.
Are platys aggressive?
Platys have a reputation for being amiable fish that get along with each other.
Only when you introduce two males to a tank would you normally see any sort of aggression
.
How big do platys get?
The platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) grows to a maximum overall length of
7.0 cm (2.8 in)
. Sexual dimorphism is slight, the male’s caudal fin being more pointed. The anal fin of the male fish has evolved into a gonopodium, a stick-shaped organ used for reproduction.
Can platy fish live without a filter?
Being a live animal, Platy needs to eat. And because it eats, it’s going to create waste. On the top of that leftover food and dried leaves from plants will rot and become waste, too. All those toxins are harmful to your fish, therefore,
your Platy also needs a filter to remain healthy and happy.
How often do platys have babies?
Platy Biology
This species is a livebearer, which means that the female gives birth to free-swimming young. The term of gestation is 28 days. When paired with a male in a community tank, this means your female platy can potentially give birth
every four weeks
.
Are platys cold water fish?
What is this? Though typically found in Freshwater aquariums,
Platy fish can also thrive in coldwater tanks, as long as the water parameters are kept consistent
. Plenty of water changes and a consistent temperature will keep your Platy fish happy.
Do platys like air bubbles?
I checked on them last night and they are not gasping for air at the top of the tank, however
they do like to spend time at the top and play with bubbles
. Several will grap air at the top and take the bubble halfway down the tank and release the bubble. One will do this hundreds of times.
Why is my platy staying at the top of the tank?
Staying near the surface generally is where there is more oxygen. Fish who do this are having problems getting sufficient oxygen and the usual culprit is
ammonia and nitrite toxicity
. Smaller fish like the danios can manage with lower oxygen concentrations as they are smaller fish.
How do you tell if current is too strong for fish?
You should check to see if your betta is swimming with ease. When the current in your tank is too strong,
your betta may look like he’s struggling to swim
. It almost looks like he’s getting blown around in the wind.
Do platys make lots of waste?
Platies do not make a lot of waste
, but a proper filtration system will help clear toxins from the water.
Why is my platy fish shaking?
Shimmying is a symptom rather than a single disease, and
an indication that a fish no longer has proper control of its nerves and muscles
. It occurs when fish are under severe stress, most often because of environmental problems. The classic scenario is when mollies are kept in soft or acidic water conditions.
Do platys eat plants?
They have never eaten any plant in the tank
. They do peck at various hair algae, though.
Why is my platy swimming up and down?
Fish exhibit many behaviors that tell us how they are feeling, and glass surfing (also known as pacing) is one of them. This is when fish constantly swim up and down the sides of the aquarium glass.
One reason they do this is stress
. It could mean they aren’t happy in their environment, for one reason or another.
Why is my platy swimming sideways?
This disorder happens when the fish’s swim bladder is too full and changes your fancy goldfish’s buoyancy
. Your fish may float to the top of the tank or sink to the bottom of the tank. They may swim sideways or float upside down belly-up.
