8 Gallon Tank

I have a new 8 gallon tank. The fish in it are two platties and a corydoras catfish, which are all getting along rather well. I have four nicely grouped plants in it and some slightly larger rocks that are for the catfish to hide behind should he care to. Generally they seem happy, their colour is good. I haven't owned fish in a while though and I seem to find differing views on some things.

1. My platties seem to be stress free except moments when something startles them. However I'm told that the male is likely to harass the female, and yet I haven't seen any signs of this. Should I nevertheless think of getting another female?

2. The amount of fish per gallon seems to vary as well. I'm not sure if adding another fish, even a small one like a platty is actually a good idea.

 

First, has your tank cycled? If not then please do not add anymore fish until it does. Please read the articles in the beginners forum regarding the Nitrogen Cycle......

Second, Platys are livebearing fish - meaning they give birth to live young. They tend to become stressed if in a 1:1 situation as the male will constantly chase the female. Once your tank has cycled, I would add one more female.

Next, a good rule of thumb is to stock your tank at 1" of fish per gallon of water. Be sure to remember to consider the size of the fish once it reaches an adult......not as a youngling.

Lastly, again - once your tank has cycled, I would add only the one female platy as you would be at the tank's limits....

Good Luck!

 

Actually the tank has cycled, I didn't just put the fish in right away. And thanks for the advice. Another question for anyone reading: can I mix platy breeds or should I get exactly the same kind?

 

Platys will mate with platys.....Same as swords. We've got mixed swords and the female gave birth to both red and green....

 

doesn't matter all livebearers will mate with livebearers and with platys depending on the color is the type of babys you are going to have so get creative and try to breed a wearid type of platy if you want and how many corys do you like they like to be in groups perferably 5 or more but 3 can work to

 

I only have one cory right now. When I upgrade to a bigger tank I will get some more. It seems fairly active and happy enough, and it isn't hiding all the time although I provided a rock cubbyhole for it.

As for the platys, I agree I'd be interested to see what a different coloration would add. And I think that there is some tension building now. The two platys are not swimming together as much these last couple of days and I've noticed the male now and then darts at her and she swims quickly away. Other times they are still hanging out. They still feed together and sometimes investigate around the plants together though.

 

I have 3 platys right now and their constantly harashing eachother... they have spawned once before but what do u know...the betta was hungry

 

LOL, how do they get along with that betta?

BTW, my third platy is doing okay. Actually their group behavior has changed, and I'm not sure how to describe it. They're swimming in the open areas more. Does that mean they are more confident?

 

really well...I'm lucky enough to have a very calm betta in there with them and he is still very young too...

 

atmmachine816- all livebearers won't breed with each other. platys and swords will cross breed, but neither of those will breed with guppys. Those are the most common livebearers.
Carol

 

but all types of platys will mate with eachother and same with yea u should get it..

 

I did get the other platy and now things are a bit calmer. Also since they are all still small and I'm upgrading my tank I got a cory cat as well for company for the other one. The corys got along immediately.

 

how big of a tank are you getting?

 

30 Gallon. I want a nice interesting community tank but I don't want to sacrifice my current fish to have it. So definitely the new fish would have to be compatible with my platys and corydoras.

 

sorry gunnie I had heard wrong info I am not sure were but somebody had told me that all livebearers will mate with each other

I know better know :