Alessa

as many of you know, I have only one platy, my little Crash (anyone familiar with crash bandicoot... he has exactly his same color!). I know he might be lonely and I dont want him to be sad so I want to get him one or two platy buddies to hang around with.

I would like to know if i introduce new platys to the tank: will they get along with my platy? will they form a school-ish? or will they get agressive against each other? if i do they will be MALES because at the moment i cant take care of fry and most certainly dont want to see a fry lunch going on in my tank.

thx-alessa

Blub

Platys are peaceful! There may be a bit of fighting from time to time (Like... The biggest, dominant one takes a few nips at the runt at lunchtime!) but that's it!
Personally, I think you should get a group of 5 more male paltys, because a mixed group of platys swimming around at the front a blessing to own and a true marvel to behold... I love platys - I have always had at least 1 in at least 1 of my tanks.

PS. If you can find it, try your platys on Tetra FreshDelcia. It's commonplace in the UK - carried by every pet store and you will just have to marvel at the way the cute platys snack from your fingers! I love it.

Alessa

thanks i will check it out!

COBettaCouple

If you get a couple more males as close to his size as you can, they should form a pecking order and get along.

Alessa

thanks. I wanted to know because my guppies came at the same time and they go everywhere together but i have noticed that the big one every once in a while kinda pokes the little one... nothing dangerous, just a little "warning" of who is the boss... and also they kinda seem to ignore my platy who is WAY bigger than them...

Alessa

ok, i got one more platy (cant get many fishies at once) and the only thing he does is pick on my little Crash! my poor crashy is so scared he wont get out of a plant covered corner! he wont even let him eat!

should i get another one? or will it make things worse?

Alessa

he is so agressive it reminds me of the agressiveness of the gouramis :O !!!

Blub

Get another platy or two. That will divide the attentions of the domminante one - so Crash will get a rest.

Alessa

thats what I will do... now that I suspect my mystery snail is dead

Blub

If his shell is upside down, then turn him round the right way BEFORE it's to late for your little mollusc!

Alessa

I foud her! shes alive! omg im soooooo happy, that is one hardy and very strong snail right there!

ok the problem with getting me another platy is overstocking. I had planned for a school of five neons to be the very last addition to my tank... if i get him that would make a total of:

4 guppies (1.5 inches each)
4 otos (1.5 inches each)
5 neon tetras (1.5 inches each)
3 platies (2 inches each)
2 mystery snails and 2 ghost shrimp (total of about 5 inches)

would i be severely overcrowding the tank? can i get away with the extra platy?

thanks!

Blub

Gups and Otos get 2" each. So, no space for the neons and you would still be overstocked. If you where to find the snails a new home, you would have room for the neons. But, remember, always cater for your current fish before you make plans for new arrivals.
Also, Mystery snails take up 5" each!

Alessa

i think those are apple snails (the big ones) mystery snails (The little ones) according to the applesnail.com website take 2.5 each...

Blub

They're snails the size of a cricket ball. They need more than 2.5gal each! Remember, snails are bigger poopers than fish. Apple and mystery snails are the same thing - you need to use latin to define the different species accurately. For instance, the commonest apple snail is Pomacea birdgsenii.