lone dwarf platy OK or lonely?

[klfvilla]

Hi, I have a 5g with a male betta. I had two dwarf sunshine coral platies but one passed away. Tank is 6 weeks old tomorrow and I think I've finally got it cycled or at least very close. I can't test properly for ammonia because its in my tap water, but my API test is now showing 0 nitrites (horray!) and the nitrate looks to be a light orange more than yellow. Anyway, the question is, should I replace the platy that I lost as company for the one that I have or is he OK alone. Frankly, when there were two, it looked like there was a fair amount of bossing going on between them but on the other hand, since he's been alone, Pig as we call him, spends most of his days pecking around looking for food. If he would be OK without another of his kind, I thought maybe I could add a couple of endlers if I can ever find any. Opinions please.

 

[dewilde2]

tough call

I too had a lone dwarf platy for a while that seemed to very much be happier when I got him a buddy...however I accidentally picked out a girl, and that will result in platy babies, and your tank is going to be way too small for any more bebes that survive. Did you have two males before? Maybe that is why they didn't get along. I think I would try to find the endlers, unless you have some place to take all the babies.

 

[klfvilla]

Ah, well I believe I have a boy. And the one I lost was definately a girl. He would chase her and nip at her occasionally so if 2 boys together could be trouble and he was definately a bother to the girl, then I don't think a replacement platy would work so I'll have to continue looking for an endler friend or two. Hopefully the platy would be able to hang out with them. About babies, no I don't have any other tank though I'm pretty sure they would have been betta snacks anyway. Thanks for the info. That was helpful.