10 Gallon Tank Platy harassing others

I have a platy which seems harassing others every once and a while, yesterday I realized one of my platys just hanging on the bottom slowly moving its fins , I checked the other two platys, they were fine, the shrimp were also fine and so for the snails, everything in the tank seems comfortable except this platy, even the pest snails started growing recently, while watching around trying to guess what’s making the platy tired , that one platy I mentioned above attacked it, and it seems like either the fish is scared or injured, the fish doesn’t rush with the fish when I feed them, but if it sees some food it eats, I plan to transfer the sick platy to a hospital tank and return that platy attacking others, now my question is: can I return the platy now and transfer the other one to the hospital tank which will leave one platy alone in the tank, or should I wait to see if the fish will recover then return the fish?
My other question is: if we suppose that the platy didn’t make it in the hospital tank, can I quarantine two platys in a 2.5g tank?

 

From my experience with the platy I had even the 35 litre tank they are in is possibly too small for them.

I wouldnt try and put 2 platy in a 2.5 gallon.

What sex are the platy you have?.
If the ratio of male to female isn't good it might be that a male is just bugging the female all the time to produce babies.

 

From my experience with the platy I had even the 35 litre tank they are in is possibly too small for them.

I wouldnt try and put 2 platy in a 2.5 gallon.

What sex are the platy you have?.
If the ratio of male to female isn't good it might be that a male is just bugging the female all the time to produce babies.

I thought they were all females , but now I am doubting about that one harassing that it could be a male, about the size, I can return all of them and get some other fish if thats the case, I don’t want to harm the fish, but are you really sure a 10g won’t keep 3 platys?

I thought they were all females , but now I am doubting about that one harassing that it could be a male, about the size, I can return all of them and get some other fish if thats the case, I don’t want to harm the fish, but are you really sure a 10g won’t keep 3 platys?

Also what fish do you recommend in a 10g if not platys?

 

Platies and Guppies should be kept in tanks of at least a footprint of 80x30cm, Mollies and Swordbearers in 100x30cm. Otherwise the males will harras the females (and with lack of those other tankmates) to death.

You could keep small rasboras (chilies or kubotai), tetras (embers) or dwarf cories (C. pygmaeus) in that tank size, but definitely not a tank size for livebearers of any kind.

 

Platies and Guppies should be kept in tanks of at least a footprint of 80x30cm, Mollies and Swordbearers in 100x30cm. Otherwise the males will harras the females (and with lack of those other tankmates) to death.

You could keep small rasboras (chilies or kubotai), tetras (embers) or dwarf cories (C. pygmaeus) in that tank size, but definitely not a tank size for livebearers of any kind.

Yes, I think you’re right , the male to female ratio was always a problem, I will see what kind of fish the store has and decided, I got some rasboras before but they all died, I don’t know if it was my fault or it was from the store. Can I get a pair of rams?

 

Yes, I think you’re right , the male to female ratio was always a problem, I will see what kind of fish the store has and decided, I got some rasboras before but they all died, I don’t know if it was my fault or it was from the store. Can I get a pair of rams?

Do you know your water parameters (tap and tank! Incl. GH and KH)? Those should be your guideline.

Why the rasboras died: Impossible to know in hindsight.

Rams: Absolutely NOT. While tanks this size are sometimes used as breeding tanks for cichlids, breeders always have the option to remove one of the two fish and usually would place a bonded pair in the first place anyway. I wouldn't eep any cichlids in less than 80 liters.

 

They are easy to tell apart. The males have a long pointed analfin at the back and the female have a larger circular / fan shaped one.
If you could get pics we could have a look

35 litres is only about 7.5 gallon.
A 10 gallon is about 46 litres in size.

It always depends on the fish really.
Yours are unhappy / unwell so you need to try and figure out what it is that's making them this way.

Assuming there isn't something like ammonia or nitrite etc making them like that one would have to assume its maybe the tank or tank mates that's doing it

 

Do you know your water parameters (tap and tank! Incl. GH and KH)? Those should be your guideline.

Why the rasboras died: Impossible to know in hindsight.

Rams: Absolutely NOT. While tanks this size are sometimes used as breeding tanks for cichlids, breeders always have the option to remove one of the two fish and usually would place a bonded pair in the first place anyway. I wouldn't eep any cichlids in less than 80 liters.

Those rasboras was a year ago or so , I think I recycled the tank after them , but it could be that I didn’t cycle the tank properly that time , or maybe I didn’t acclimate them well,
Anyways thanks for the advice, I will look for some ember tetras or maybe some rasboras, but how many should I get? Maybe 6? I still don’t know, how about gourami? I read that they prefer to be 5+ so I don’t think I should buy them,

They are easy to tell apart. The males have a long pointed analfin at the back and the female have a larger circular / fan shaped one.
If you could get pics we could have a look

35 litres is only about 7.5 gallon.
A 10 gallon is about 46 litres in size.

It always depends on the fish really.
Yours are unhappy / unwell so you need to try and figure out what it is that's making them this way.

Assuming there isn't something like ammonia or nitrite etc making them like that one would have to assume its maybe the tank or tank mates that's doing it

I know how males look like, but this fish was a juvenile when I got it so maybe that made some confusion, anyway I think I should get other fish as Macz said because the tank doesn’t have much space for livebearers

 

There re a lot of different species of gourami, but they are also too big. Any fish that grows bigger than 3cm is out in a tank of that size.

The complete stocking could be 6-8 rasboras or 6 ember tetras, maybe some Neocaridina shrimp or ramshorn snails. That's all I would cram in a tank that size.

Personally I wouldn't keep any fish in it, but technically the aforementioned stocking would be possible.

 

There re a lot of different species of gourami, but they are also too big. Any fish that grows bigger than 3cm is out in a tank of that size.

The complete stocking could be 6-8 rasboras or 6 ember tetras, maybe some Neocaridina shrimp or ramshorn snails. That's all I would cram in a tank that size.

Personally I wouldn't keep any fish in it, but technically the aforementioned stocking would be possible.

I went to the store and got some pics , I still can’t determent what kind are they but I think they are rainbow fish and some kind of rasboras
Also about the gourami, I know that some species of them gets large, but I was referring to the dwarf gourami, if you have some experience in them, can a pair of them live in a tank like mine?

 

I went to the store and got some pics , I still can’t determent what kind are they but I think they are rainbow fish and some kind of rasboras

Dwarf rainbows and rosy barbs. Both get too big.

And I was aware you were talking about a dwarf gourami and when I wrote they get too big I meant ALL OF THEM. Those will also need a tank of at least 60-80 liters.

I'll be blunt: Your tank size is good for invertebrates, but not for fish. And many of the "nano" fish are not really what retailers market them as.

 

Dwarf rainbows and rosy barbs. Both get too big.

And I was aware you were talking about a dwarf gourami and when I wrote they get too big I meant ALL OF THEM. Those will also need a tank of at least 60-80 liters.

I'll be blunt: Your tank size is good for invertebrates, but not for fish. And many of the "nano" fish are not really what retailers market them as.

Ok I don’t think gourami fish is a good idea, but do you really think that no fish will be able to live in this tank? What about betta fish? I think they can comfortably live in a tank this size, but I won’t get it because my filter has high flow and my driftwood has sharp edges, I don’t really think that the “size” of the tank is that small that I can’t put any fish into, I will look for the fish you recommended above such as rasboras and ember tetras and will see if any other nano fish can comfortably live in this tank.
Thanks for your time

 

I have left out bettas on purpose, because, while yes, the volume would be ok, I have no experience with bettas myself, because the domestic bred bettas are one of the most mistreated and overbred species in the hobby and I don't want to support that.

You might find some interesting nano-fish, just be aware that of these few factors:
- They shouldn't grow bigger than 2-3cm.
- They should not be territorial (or else one single fish is all that's possible, like with a betta)
- They should neither need a bigger group to be happy.
- They best also shouldn't reproduce unchecked or the tank will be overstocked in no time.

Anything that fits the bill might work.

You're welcome, have fun researching and good luck.

 

I have left out bettas on purpose, because, while yes, the volume would be ok, I have no experience with bettas myself, because the domestic bred bettas are one of the most mistreated and overbred species in the hobby and I don't want to support that.

You might find some interesting nano-fish, just be aware that of these few factors:
- They shouldn't grow bigger than 2-3cm.
- They should not be territorial (or else one single fish is all that's possible, like with a betta)
- They should neither need a bigger group to be happy.
- They best also shouldn't reproduce unchecked or the tank will be overstocked in no time.

Anything that fits the bill might work.

You're welcome, have fun researching and good luck.

After a little research I read that a pea puffer can live even in a 5g ( I don’t know of that’s right) and a trio would be good in a 10g , I also read that I should keep a ratio of one male to 2-3 females but I think I will only have females, these fish are so small as I saw in the pictures and I saw my store selling it before, I think these fish would be a good option for the tank

 

After a little research I read that a pea puffer can live even in a 5g ( I don’t know of that’s right) and a trio would be good in a 10g

Who gives such advise?

Sorry, I'm speechless. It's unbelievable what information is put out there.

 

Who gives such advise?

Sorry, I'm speechless. It's unbelievable what information is put out there.

Wait! even pea puffers won’t work? Wow , but can you explain why ?

 

Puffers need live or frozen food, which is bad for water quality. The smaller the tank the more susceptible the tank to fluctuations and instability. The necessary maintenance is disproportionate.

Also puffers can be a bit rough among each other, a small tank might not have the necessary space the animal need to stay out of each others way.

 

Puffers need live or frozen food, which is bad for water quality. The smaller the tank the more susceptible the tank to fluctuations and instability. The necessary maintenance is disproportionate.

Also puffers can be a bit rough among each other, a small tank might not have the necessary space the animal need to stay out of each others way.

ok I understand all of the points you said , but they ONLY eat live or frozen food?won’t hikari micro pellets work?

 

I have not seen anybody feeding puffers dried foods and I personally wouldn't even try. At least not as an only food. Varied diets are essential.

 

I have not seen anybody feeding puffers dried foods and I personally wouldn't even try. At least not as an only food. Varied diets are essential.

Ok puffers seems to be not the right option , I should take my time researching.

 

Take your time, weigh up pros and cons and think twice before accepting tanksizes you find on the internet. As a rule of thump, always assume 30-50% more volume are the actual tank size the fish need and also that footprint (lengthxdepth) can be equally as important as volume.

 

Take your time, weigh up pros and cons and think twice before accepting tanksizes you find on the internet. As a rule of thump, always assume 30-50% more volume are the actual tank size the fish need and also that footprint (lengthxdepth) can be equally as important as volume.

Thanks for the advice, you know the problem is whenever you find a fish that suits your tank, your store doesn’t always have it

 

I have a platy which seems harassing others every once and a while, yesterday I realized one of my platys just hanging on the bottom slowly moving its fins , I checked the other two platys, they were fine, the shrimp were also fine and so for the snails, everything in the tank seems comfortable except this platy, even the pest snails started growing recently, while watching around trying to guess what’s making the platy tired , that one platy I mentioned above attacked it, and it seems like either the fish is scared or injured, the fish doesn’t rush with the fish when I feed them, but if it sees some food it eats, I plan to transfer the sick platy to a hospital tank and return that platy attacking others, now my question is: can I return the platy now and transfer the other one to the hospital tank which will leave one platy alone in the tank, or should I wait to see if the fish will recover then return the fish?
My other question is: if we suppose that the platy didn’t make it in the hospital tank, can I quarantine two platys in a 2.5g tank?

Hi I have a particular platy who cleans one of my 2 cichlids on a regular basis,it's like it just waits for the platy to come and give a full body all over cleaning session,never seen this begote