Question about platys, guppies and swordtails.

Do you have to keep males and females of platys,guppies and swordtails? or can you keep you a couple of one sex?

My daughter wants to put these on her consider list but I don't want babys

 

You can keep them of one gender but remember: Most female livebearers you buy from the store are already pregnant for the next 6 months so I would consider getting all male

 

If you don't want babies everywhere, I would suggest getting all males. Besides, male guppies are prettier anyway!

 

the problem with all males, is potential aggression between them. if you had any fish that would eat the fry, then the problem could be solved with the babies. but if you don't....you def could be over run with them. and they are almost impossible to even give away. unless you have unique strains

you could keep all females....though they will likely come prehit. but if you can get rid of any fry they have....then that would be it in terms of reproducing from that point on

 

If you don't want babies everywhere, I would suggest getting all males. Besides, male guppies are prettier anyway!

yeah I was hoping to get males as I had heard of getting pregnant fish.

the problem with all males, is potential aggression between them. if you had any fish that would eat the fry, then the problem could be solved with the babies. but if you don't....you def could be over run with them. and they are almost impossible to even give away. unless you have unique strains

you could keep all females....though they will likely come prehit. but if you can get rid of any fry they have....then that would be it in terms of reproducing from that point on

While I am not opposed to the whole let natues takes its course my daughter would go nuts (this is not actually an understatement as she has bipolar) if she was to see fish eating any babies which is why I need to avoid the whole thing.

I think once the 55 gallon is here and going I will let her choose one type and get a couple males and go that way.

thanks for the help