Help with platies

[ksane]

Get some Ghost Shrimp or Cherry Shrimps for the kids for that size tank, they'd love wtching them, they're like miniature 'lobsters'. And maybe a couple of really bright colored snails. Snails are a lot of fun to watch when they get to moving around.

 

[Hollygirl]

Some fish that stay small and are peaceful are neon tetras, glowlight tetras, ember tetras, white cloud minnows, and harlequin rasboras.

Personally I don't think two Platys in a 5 gallon is all that bad if you keep it to two females. I would add some live easy to care for plants to help keep the water clean along with partial water changes.

 

[Brian Bivens]

I disagree with the thinking that 2 platys can't be kept in a 5 gallon. They can, but you have to keep up on the tank. I have had 6 neons in a five gallon for over two years at my desk at work.

Try for either two males, or two females... and yes, keep up on the water changes, use Prime as your water conditioner, and see if the LFS will give you a small cup of gravel (put it in a bag, and set it in the filter, to introduce the nitrifying bacteria.)

Other than that, just have patience. They will do fine in the small tank, if everything else is kept up. There aren't many fish tougher than platys either, which is why many fish shops recommend them.

 

[KLinB]

Thanks again... we'll see how things go when we get two females and keep up on maintaining the water.

 

[katana1200]

A male betta and some ghost shrimp would be lovely in a 5 gallon tank. 2 male guppies and a mystery (pomecea diffusa) snail would work. Farther down on this forum is a nice little article written by a memeber here that gives great suggestions for a "nano" tank. Good luck with your tank and make sure to keep the fish food on the TOP shelf.....trust me! :hitting:

Oh and thoughts for a heater http://www.kensfish.com/stealthheaters.html I like these for my 5 gal betta tank. It keeps the temp at a constant 79*. And kensfish is a great resource for supplies and food. Browse around, alot of items half the cost of megamart pet stores.

 

[aquamate]

An alternative... exchange the male platy for a female molly. Mollys are colourful, active and fun to watch, low maintenance and are very hardy, in short, great starter fish that should suit your needs.
Only, mollys sometimes require a little aquarium salt to be happy.
regards
aquamate

 

[iLunar]

i Agree with the posts above, probably a male and female platty i recommend you upgrade to a 10g and buy 4 more platies 1 male 3 females so it will be a 1:2 male to female ratio to even out the chasing and aggression to the females so they won't be stressed.

 

[Turbosaurus]

Exchange the male and you will be fine. There is NOTHING wrong with keeping two platties in a five gallon tank, its plenty of space for two fish and now that you know about the cycle and biofilter you'll do just fine ;-)

The female is almost surely inseminated anyway- but with two females in a five gallon its likely any fry will "disappear" in a day or two anyway (snacks). I think its a great idea to have your kids involved with taking care of a living creature.

 

[iLunar]

Exchange the male and you will be fine. There is NOTHING wrong with keeping two platties in a five gallon tank, its plenty of space for two fish and now that you know about the cycle and biofilter you'll do just fine ;-)

The female is almost surely inseminated anyway- but with two females in a five gallon its likely any fry will "disappear" in a day or two anyway (snacks). I think its a great idea to have your kids involved with taking care of a living creature.

i Stand corrected by a cheaper alternative! you can easily fit 3 platies in that 5g with regular w/c but theres nothing bad with upgrading to a 10g and adding more platies! the bigger the better and the more the fish the merrier i always say but everyone has his/her own opinion.