A few Platy questions

Yaaay, my tank's finally cycled, and I got the first fish a few days ago--two female red Platies named Sunrise and Sunshine (hopefully the store will get some males soon so they can have a boyfriend!). Of course, I had to change my mind about the fish I'm getting again. First I found out that Panda Cories are too expensive Then, at a pet store, both my Mum and my little brother fell in love with a gorgeous male Guppy. I've always wanted Guppies anyway, and maybe a beautiful Guppy will inspire them to get tanks of their own ;D Sooooo... I'm getting a trio of Platies, a trio of Guppies, a Dwarf Otocinclus catfish, and a female Betta. I really hope this one works. Anyway, I actually am posting this to ask a few last-minute questions about Platies. How can I add some vegetable matter to their diet? Also, I was wondering exactly what would be involved in breeding Platies.

 

Omega one makes a veggie flake that I use for my Guppys and they really like it. I believe the trio of Platies is all you need to breed them. Now your guppy fry and platy fry will survive much better if there is a lot of plants as well as floating plants in the tank. this will also provide some plant matter for your fishes diet because they will hunt out the odd leaf that dies and munch on it.
The betta will appreciate the floating plants because it will hang out at the top of the tank some, watch for the platies to nip its fins. their fins are very tempting to other fish as the float along ;D
Since otocinclus tend to like a more mature tank you might want to wait at least a month before putting any in there. oh and they seem to like to have a buddy. Hope that helps.
check out my betta pic ;D

Carol

 

Hey butterfly I just saw your pic of your betta and isn't that WAY to many floating plants, he has no surface space to get food and air it seems like that can be hurting him ???? And is that pale color your bettas natural color or is it sick?

 

No that's not too many plants just his own personal clump. That is in the top of a 75G and he has plenty of surface. He likes to get up in the plants to rest or eat. the leaves tend to slow down the movement of his food(and he likes to be hand fed).In fact that's why hes up in the plants in that pic he thought I was going to feed him again. That is his natural color, he is pink with purple edges to his fins.

 

Oh sorry I guess I should have asked what size tank it was it just looked from the picture likea 10 gallon or less. Sorry :-\

 

Thanks everyone for replying. As for breeding, I was actually thinking more along the lines of setting up a separate breeding tank, and wondering about feeding and care of the fry. I don't currently have the money for another tank, so for now I'll just let them breed in the main tank. Unfortunately it just has several plastic plants (I do have one anchored at the top as a floating plant), and I need some ideas on increasing the fry survival rate. Are you sure Dwarf Ottos like a friend? I want my fish to be happy, but I don't have room in my tank plan for another 2-inch fish (or any other fish, for that matter). Would Guppies be okay in a pair, or do they need to be kept in trios like Platies to prevent the male from exhausting the female?

 

That's ok Durbkat this is the tank his picture was taken in.
Omorrkh: a pair of guppys would be fine, and otos do like buddys but try one and see what happens. Although you really need to let your tank mature a little. They look for algae and even feeding them algae wafers they will still look.

 

What happened? Did 2 topics get combined?

 

Sorry 0morrokh I was just saying how much my betta liked plants and thought yours might also.(the reason for posting the pic). Durbkat was concerned because it looked like my betta was crowed in a small tank. and I was showing that no he wasn't.(the reason for posting the second pic).
Now back to the subject at hand ;D I think the tank you are putting together will be a joy to watch and the fish happy. Will we have pics soon?
Carol

 

WOW!!! That is a beautiful tank. Stuff Looks so bloody good! Great design, use of plants, wood etc.

 

0morrokh, Do you live in the states? If so, send me a pm.

 

Yeah, Gunnie, I live in the states. What do you mean 'send me a pm'? Okay, Butterfly, I think that was one of my ignorant moments Anyway, I decided to save the Bettas for another tank so I can get 2 Dwarf Ottos. I was looking forward to Bettas, but I'd rather make my fish happy, and besides, I was a little nervous keeping Bettas and Guppies together. Unfortunately, my computer doesn't have a scanner or anything, so I don't have any way to post pictures I will post one if I find a way, but it could be a while. So for now I'll describe it:

My tank is a ten-gallon with a black hood. The substrate is yellowish pea gravel, with hills and vallies, and a deep drop in the far left corner for the fish to hide in. In the middle there is a small piece of fake wood, partially covered by a plant. There are quite a few medium-smallish brown & black, smooth rocks scattered around the bottom. The plants on the bottom are 7 plastic, but pretty realistic, randomly but equally spaced, of all different shapes, and are all a shade of green, although one has yellow "flowers" and another is bluish. On the top is a light blue (it looks more natural than it sounds), very leafy plant, at the back of the tank in the center. Some "branches" hang lower than the water surface, allowing the fish to swim over or under it. In the back left the filtered water pours in, and on the right is the airstone--I couldn't hide it, so I just let it show, and it looks fine. Eventually, the fish will be: Three red Platies (1 M and 2 F), two Dwarf Ottos, and three Guppies (1 M and 2 F). The male Guppy we liked had a black and silvery-tan body, with deep, almost rusty red fins, but I don't know what color I'll end up with. My tank does look pretty nice, if I do say so myself. I hope to get more someday, or maybe even convince a family member to get one. I don't know how people without aquariums get to sleep!

 

[quote}  I don't know how people without aquariums get to sleep!I know what you mean!! my house sounds like a constant water fall, and I love it
Thanks guys for the nice comments on my tank., If you want we can start another thread and dissect it bit by bit( I love talking about my tanks).
Omorrokh: on the left side under your name in a little button that says Im, If you click on it another screen will come up and you can send Gunnie a message that only she will see. PM = Private Message.
Carol

 

Omorrokh: on the left side under your name in a little button that says Im, If you click on it another screen will come up and you can send Gunnie a message that only she will see. PM = Private Message.

I have sent you a pm.  Up at the top of your screen, it should say, "Hey Omorrokh, you have 1 message, 1 is new.  Just click on the underlined part.   

 

Gunnie, I got your pm. Right now I have my Platies, who are doing great, and two new female Guppies...who might not be doing so great. One is fine, but I think the other has fungus I posted about it under Fish Diseases...pleeeease someone respond, while I try not to panic. Anyone have any more ideas about including vegetable matter in their diets? The only stuff I regularly have on hand are carrots and apples--can I feed those, and do I have to do anything to them first?

 

Have a look at this discussion