Adding female platties

[travelinman1969]

I have been told that the platty ratio for male to female should be 1:2. 2 females per male. I have 2 males in my 5 gallon with 3 neon tettras, 2 emerald cories and an alge eater. I don't want to add 4 females, but would like to add 2 females. Would this be a problem? I think 2 more platties would about max my bio-load. What do you all think?

[snakeskinner]

I don't have much problem with my platies, it's the mollies that get pushy with eachother. Kyle

[Captain Hook]

You are pushing max bioload that is for sure. And the tank is small so not much room for slacking with maintenance. What kind of algae eater is it?

I would say your best bet if you want to add platies would be remove one of the males and add two females. The males will costantly be harrassing the females to mate and could exhaust them.

[travelinman1969]

It's a Chinese and he's pretty big for his breed. He's about 4 inches and a lazy bas**rd at that. The water parameters stay good and I don't feel the load is really big right now.

That is the problem I'm worried about. I haven't had platties since I was a kid and can't remember how aggresive the males get. I surely wouldn't put 1 female with 2 males. They aren't too big and I keep up on my tanks really well. The only option on getting rid of one of the males would be feeding it to my oscars, not an option. I really want to get a bigger tank but don't really have the room, UNLESS, I kick my girlfriend out. Also not an option. She really wants a new sofa, maybe I could make a deal. :D LOL! I would like to add 4 females and a few more neons, maybe a couple more cories in say a 29. Just tryin to get a feel for it. She'll go nuts if I bring it up. But, I think she might like a bigger community tank in the living room. She likes the smaller fish. She hates my 150. Won't hurt to ask, worst case, I'll get cut off. That's not an option either. Have to think about this one. :p

[Captain Hook]

Haha, decisions decisions! When you go to buy the females you could ask if they will trade you a male for a female, or at least give a good deal if you trade. Yea that chinese algae eater needs to get outta there! They get really big and are tough fish. You could probably put it in your 150 soon.