Platy fish are very friendly and social. Therefore, they need to be kept in a group. They are also very colorful, adding to their appeal. Platy fish are a type of livebearer. Therefore, they cannot be kept with other fish types such as cichlids or swordtails. But Can Platy Fish Live With Other Livebearers?
Platy fish can live well with livebearers and have been successfully housed together in the same tank for many years now. So the main thing that you need to keep in mind is that platies should be housed with similar livebearers.
There is a huge number of benefits associated with keeping platies with other livebearer fish types. First and foremost, the compatibility factor is very high when you keep different species together as they have lived in the same environment for centuries now.
They are very social and friendly, so you will want to have them in groups of at least five or more, even if you decide not to breed them later on down the line. Second, keeping multiple types of livebearers can provide your tank with different colors that will be a welcome addition to your aquarium.
This article will answer this question and more, including the male to female ratio for platies, tank size for keeping these little swimmers happy and healthy.
It True That Platy Fish Cannot Live With Other Livebearers?
No, it isn’t. In fact, there are several reasons why keeping Platy fish with other livebearers is a good idea.
You need to understand that there are different types of livebearers, and not all of them can be kept together.
Although platies and other livebearers fish cannot mate with each other, the two can breed if they’re both housed in a tank together. That’s why you need to know which type of livebearer fish works best.
Can Platy Fish Live With Other Livebearers?
Yes, Platy fish can live with other livebearers. In fact, it is best if you only have livebearers in the tank because they will not harm each other at all and will get along great.
Without live plants in the tank, you can expect a lot of babies to be born. Livebearers are also not picky about their food and will eat anything from flakes to algae wafers.
You can also add some bottom-feeders like Corydoras catfish to clean up the bottom of your tank.
They are peaceful fish, and you can keep them with other livebearers. However, they cannot be kept with goldfish or any predatory species because of their small size.
Why Keeping Platy Fish With Other Livebearers Is A Good Idea?
There are many reasons why you should keep livebearer fish together. To start, it will be easier to manage their tank size when they share it with other livebearers.
For instance, if the tank is 45 gallons in volume and two male and female livebearer fish, you will only need to clean the tank once every month.
On the other hand, if there is a single male and female livebearer in that same volume of water, they would require daily maintenance because their waste accumulates faster than when several are kept together.
Secondly, Platy fish care becomes easier if you keep them with other livebearers.
For instance, it can be difficult to determine whether they are male or female because their sex organs may not become visible until later. However, this is impossible when there are several of each gender together.
Finally, keeping different livebearer fish together is a good idea because they will not get lonely.
They can also learn from one another and become more confident when their environment becomes safer.
This means that they are less likely to hide or be stressed out in the long term. In addition, keeping several types of livebearers together will ensure that the entire tank is safer.
Some fish can always protect others from predators, such as aggressive cichlid species or large predatory fish.
Setting Up A Livebearer Only Tank For Platy Fish
I will list out all the information that you will need for setting up a livebearer-only tank.
Tank Size
The size of your fishbowl or aquarium should be at least 20 gallons to provide enough space for the fish to swim around freely, including hiding places so they can feel safe.
Water Parameters
You will want to keep soft and slightly acidic water in your livebearer aquarium. The temperature range should be between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the water should have a medium-hard to the soft range.
Male To Female Ratio
The correct ratio of male livebearer fish to female livebearer fish is one male with three or four females.
If you add more males than necessary, it will lead to too many babies! So you want your livebearers tank to contain a few extra hiding spots, but not too many.
If you want to breed your livebearer fish, you need to provide them with a breeding tank.
If they reproduce in an aquarium, the babies can easily get sucked into the filter and killed.
You should have one male platy with at least three females for optimal reproduction!
Feeding Livebearers
A livebearer fish diet should be a combination of protein and plant foods. The best live food to feed your platy is bloodworms or brine shrimp in small amounts three times a week if you want them to grow quickly. You can also give them live brine shrimp or daphnia once a week. You can also feed them freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex worms, and frozen peas.
Keep Live Plants
Live plants are essential to have in your Platy fish tank because they provide shade for the fish, so they do not feel threatened by their own shadows! Plus, you can use the live plants as a food source for your fish!
Hiding Spots
Provide your fish with hiding spots in the tank, so they feel safe when you are present or not home, especially if other fish can bully them.
Maintain The Tank
Make sure you keep track of how much water is in the tank and replace it when necessary. Also, clean out any uneaten food or plant debris that gathers at the bottom of your aquarium weekly to prevent bacteria buildup. It would help if you also did regular water changes to make sure your water stays well balanced.
Do Different Livebearers Reproduce With Each Other?
Well, it depends. Some livebearers might reproduce with other livebearers. Some don’t.
Different livebearers will not reproduce with each other. However, it is possible that they can do it, though this might be a rare situation, and you should not expect your fish to breed together.
Keep in mind that the male-female ratio plays an important role, too, as some fish cannot mate unless there are more females than males present in the tank at the same time.
If you are keeping livebearers only, make sure that the tank has enough space for each fish and hideouts (if any), so they can feel safe.
Different livebearer fishes will eat their babies if given a chance to do it; therefore, keep an eye on your newborns at all times!
Different types of livebearers can reproduce with each other, such as guppies and mollies.
If you are looking to breed different types of livebearer fish in your tank or pond, you need to ensure that all the requirements for successful reproduction are present.
Can You Keep Platy Fish With Fish Other Than Livebearers?
Yes, you can keep Platy fish with other fish like guppies, mollies, swordtails, and tetras.
However, you must ensure that the other fish are also livebearers or kept in similar water parameters to Platy fish.
You should only keep males together with females if they are breeding them because otherwise, it will lead to aggressive behavior towards each other.
How Many Livebearer Fish Are There?
There are nearly 300 plus species of livebearers when it comes to freshwater fish.
FAQs
I have answered some of the most common questions asked by my readers.
Do Livebearer Fish Eat Their Babies?
This depends on the type of livebearer fish you are keeping. Some of them do eat their babies, while some protect their young ones. Do not mix different types, or else the adult fish will eat your fry.
Do Livebearers Fish Lay Eggs?
No, they are livebearers only because they give birth to their young ones.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is possible to have Platy fish live with other highly compatible livebearers. These fish can also live in a tank with other fish, as long as they are compatible. However, this does not mean that you can keep any livebearer together because there is still a chance for some to eat their babies if the adult-to-baby ratio isn’t perfect.
If you have any questions related to this, let me know in the comment section below!