Anonymous - 2011-04-20 I am a beginner to the world of fish, and I think I know what I am doing, but want it to be verified.
Here's my setup: 30 gal tank with 2 Sunburst Mollies and 2 sunset platies. I have the temp controlled at 72-78 degrees, I have some big rocks (one big enough to provide shelter), and a few plants, as well as a Chinese dragon bubbler.
Here's my question: I added a Green Spotted Puffer to the mix. Is that ok? I went to WalMart, and their fish fact tag says that the puffer will be ok with Mollies. He seems to be swimming around the whole tank, not bothering other fish, but I am worried about it after reading this website. Any suggestions?
Also, you might not be able to help on this, but my male Mollie keeps picking on the female. I was told to expect them to mate, but it looks more like torture and not mating. It could be that I am a beginner (outside that of a Beta) and just do not know what to expect. Any help here would be appreciated as well!
Thanks in advance!
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Charlie Roche - 2011-04-20 You can click on the links attached to provide you with more detailed information on the fish you have selected. Just a note to say that it is recommended that if you have other fish with a Pufferfish, you have at least a 50 gallon tank. The puffer fella likes to nip at fins. He is not supposed to be agressive and he is supposed to get along with other fish but you need a larger tank. You need a bit of vegatation there for the fish to hide and play in, whatever. Two mollies mating (movie on U-Tube) looks like the guy is trying to slam her, push her and shove her. Weird to see but it must work. Now maybe yours are fighting so watch the movie and then you'll know for sure. Looks like they were fighting to me too.
Anonymous - 2011-04-20 Hmm. I wasn't told that I would need a 50, but that could be the case. The little guy has been in the tank for about 3 hours now, and he is starting to warm up to it. He swims around a lot, and doesn't seem to bother other fish. He was almost completely grey when I added him, but now his head and some of his body is back to Green. I have a 10 gal that my Beta is currently residing in that I could move him to. I bought some live plants tonight as well, so within a few weeks I should have some more greenery. I currently only have plastic plants, good ole WalMart doesn't say anything about live plants being a necessity.
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-21 Yep, the information says if you just have the puffer, then a 20 gallon tank is fine but if you are adding (or have) other fish, you would need at least a 50 gallon. Puffer fish also need something to wear their teeth down so snails or some such other hard food. The 10 gallon tank is too small for the puffwer, definitely too small if there is another fish in it. Did you find the move on Mollies on U-Tube? There is one on just gold fish also. Strange. Yes, you need some plants. Have fun and enjoy. Remember all these fish are going to get bigger. The mollies will probably go 4 - 6 inches.
Anonymous - 2011-04-21 Yes. Well, I took Mr Puff to Petco and donated him. I decided that I didn't want to ruin his little life just because I jumped in without surveying the water first. I think once I am out of an apartment and have my bigger tanks I will go get another puffer and try again. Thanks for all your help!
Oh, random question. How many more fish can/ should I put in this 30 gallon? Currently I have 2 Mollies and 2 Platies. Thanks!
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-21 I am responding to the other email which tells me you took the puffer back. You are asking how many additional fish you can put in a 30 gallon tank with 2 mollies and 2 platies. If you think 1 inch per gallon (just as a rule of thumb) and subtract out for gravel, decorations etc a 30 gallon should leave you with about 27 gallons of swiming area. So the two mollies are 12 inches (as adults) and the two platies are 5 inches (as adults) which equals 17 inches. So you can add two other compatible fish whose adult size is not greater than 5 inches each. OK? Yeah probably best to take back the puffer. Good thinking on your part.
Dioafui - 2011-05-09 You're fine, but the male fish will chase the female to death. You should have at least three females per male, because of his desire to pro-create. I don't know about puffers, but you spelled betta wrong.
nic - 2011-08-05 Here's where you went wrong. NEVER buy fish from Walmart they are cruel to their fish. They all have an illness and are not healthy fish and Walmart does not have any idea how to care for fish. They just want to make money. I had gotten a mollie and it had 50 babies and think first about how big each baby gets. hope this helps.
p.s get live plants like water sprites
brookes - 2013-03-17 thats not true i bought mine from walmart and it was a little agrisssive at the first 4 days then it got calm it was just scared thats all. all i got to say is love your green spotted puffers. i mean who can't love that little pug face of there's...lol..!
Merida DunBroch - 2016-01-31 If the male molly is just chasing the female you have nothing to worry about. It's perfectly normal.
Paige Carroll - 2015-04-24 i have a gold mickey mouse platy and didnt know she was pregnant. she just gave birth to four babies and i think shes about to have more. how do they lose weight after having babies
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Clarice Brough - 2015-04-26 Weight generally isn't a problem with theses fish. They may bloat if they are sick, or not getting an adequate diet however. Make sure you are doing regular water maintenance and providing them with a good quality and varied diet. You can read all about how to do that for the Platy Fish above, starting with the food and feeding, and then the care section following that.
Anonymous - 2018-04-03 I have got a female sunset platy I don’t have any males and she is new to my tank two months ago she had eight babies and now she has had one more! Your platy will have more babies if her belly gets bigger or stays the same size good luck but don’t be fooled if she doesn’t have them straight away!
Ryan - 2016-06-05 We purchased a platy but as it's grown we think it may be a swordtail hybrid. It's in a 29 gallon tank with a variety of tetras, 2 ghost catfish, 2 grommies and 3 cory catfish. We think all of the fish in the tank are male (at least that was our intent). Initially they seemed to get along okay but now we are seeing the swordtail demonstrate aggression towards all of the fish in the tank.. He's chasing and nipping at them. Everything we read states that they are typically peaceful fish. Has anyone experienced aggression in platy fish before? If so, any suggestions on how to deal with it? We do have another tank he can go in, but it's only 5 gallons and we've read they need at least 10 and they like company... Any thoughts or advice would be very helpful! Thanks!
Connor - 2015-07-24 I have three sunset platies, two females and one male. One of my females belly has gotten quite big for a while now is there any chance she is pregnant? Please reply to tell me what you think.
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Clarice Brough - 2015-08-06 She could be!
Sandy - 2020-06-08 I would almost put money on it. She should look square from the front. Congratulations!! 🐟😨
Maeve - 2012-05-17 I only have one platy but I think it is pregnant. Maybe it mated in the pet shop??? It definitly has got fatter! But not much,only a bit. Is it pregnant at all?
Amanda - 2003-12-28 I have one male platy. He lives with 3 mollies and many tetras in a 55 gallon fish tank. I love his bright orange colors. He is very active. He is one of the first fish that I ever had. I am going to get him a couple of females soon. They are a very hardy fishy and can live through just about anything. They really are a great beginner fish.
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joel w caretr - 2013-09-15 I have a 60 gallon tank with platies in it. Also I have a couple of mollies in with them. I am thinking of putting some sword tails in with them.
Da Funk - 2012-12-31 is it okay to add platys to five gallon tank with betta? the tank already has an algae eater in it.
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Jeremy Roche - 2013-01-01 Can maybe add one, but I really would go with a bigger tank if you really want to add some fish. Platys are livebearers so there is a good chance if you add a male and a female, babies will soon follow!
Maeve - 2012-05-17 I have recently bought a platy and it was rather fat when I got it but I didn't think much of it. Now it's really, REEAALLY fat. Is she pregnant or have I been over feeding her? I give the fish in my tank 1 small pinch of food a day.
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Jeremy Roche - 2012-05-17 You should be able to see the fry inside. Will be a large black mass inside.
Maeve - 2012-05-20 No, it's just quite pale around her belly. But she is so fat she HAS to be pregnant. She is very shy and hides most of the time. Is that a sign of pregnancy?
Maeve - 2012-05-21 She has a gravid spot so she must be pregnant! It is very dark now!
Anonymous - 2012-01-02 HELP for my beloved platy, please! I have a female red wag platy that has been 'treading water' at the top of the tank for some time now (over the course of 1 day). Normally an active fish, and the worst part is, my male platy literally is showing sadness and is trying to get her to see him, but she's not moving. It's such a sad sight :( no signs of ich, nothing unusual that I've noticed. Doesn't look like she's birthing at all. My tank (20g): 1 female red wag platy 1 male sunset platy 2 male lyretail mollies 1 male dalmatian molly 1 blue mystery snail 4 platy fry (in maturation tank) Planted, temp 77 degrees F, good and stable conditions, water changes (1/3) weekly, filter changes every 1-2 weeks. I truly appreciate any help or advice for my platy. Thank you.
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Anonymous - 2012-03-03 Buy another female platy.
Clarice Brough - 2012-03-04 It's hard to say what's going on, especially because you aren't seeing any signs of ich or other illnesses. You could try putting her in her own tank with good water conditions, and keep an eye on her. There's could be things going on that you can't see too. It doesn't sound like a swim bladder problem, but once in awhile one can have kidney problems which can make them not swim, but nothing can be done for that really. Also, Platies only have a lifespan of about 2 - 3 years, so it may just be old age or she may just not be a healthy fish.
VICKI - 2012-11-23 you should only be changing your filters every 3 to 4 months. you need to have the proper bacterial growth in you tank if your changing your filter all the time your fish get stressed out your red wag platy will likley not survive and i highly recommed that you get some 'Stress Coat' for your tank in the mean time. sorry about your fish
Becky - 2012-09-22 I need some help of one of my neon coral vatius platy, I have 4 male fish in a 25L tank. Everything had been going fine for 5 months; 3 of the males seem to be picking on one. He is eating well but is very thin compared to the others. He’s been keeping out the way of the others and just hiding so not swimming around. He has no other signs of illness. I’m thinking it stress caused by the others as the other fish are fit and well, I’m not sure if parasites only affect one fish or the whole tank. Any advice would be much appreciated.
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Clarice Brough - 2012-09-23 Yeah other fish picking on it will definitely stress it, and as you are seeing, it will then hide out more and won't eat as often or as well.
The Platy is considered the color king of the live-bearing fishes!
I am a beginner to the world of fish, and I think I know what I am doing, but want it to be verified.
Here's my setup: 30 gal tank with 2 Sunburst Mollies and 2 sunset platies. I have the temp controlled at 72-78 degrees, I have some big rocks (one big enough to provide shelter), and a few plants, as well as a Chinese dragon bubbler.
Here's my question: I added a Green Spotted Puffer to the mix. Is that ok? I went to WalMart, and their fish fact tag says that the puffer will be ok with Mollies. He seems to be swimming around the whole tank, not bothering other fish, but I am worried about it after reading this website. Any suggestions?
Also, you might not be able to help on this, but my male Mollie keeps picking on the female. I was told to expect them to mate, but it looks more like torture and not mating. It could be that I am a beginner (outside that of a Beta) and just do not know what to expect. Any help here would be appreciated as well!
Thanks in advance!
You can click on the links attached to provide you with more detailed information on the fish you have selected. Just a note to say that it is recommended that if you have other fish with a Pufferfish, you have at least a 50 gallon tank. The puffer fella likes to nip at fins. He is not supposed to be agressive and he is supposed to get along with other fish but you need a larger tank. You need a bit of vegatation there for the fish to hide and play in, whatever. Two mollies mating (movie on U-Tube) looks like the guy is trying to slam her, push her and shove her. Weird to see but it must work. Now maybe yours are fighting so watch the movie and then you'll know for sure. Looks like they were fighting to me too.
Hmm. I wasn't told that I would need a 50, but that could be the case. The little guy has been in the tank for about 3 hours now, and he is starting to warm up to it. He swims around a lot, and doesn't seem to bother other fish. He was almost completely grey when I added him, but now his head and some of his body is back to Green. I have a 10 gal that my Beta is currently residing in that I could move him to. I bought some live plants tonight as well, so within a few weeks I should have some more greenery. I currently only have plastic plants, good ole WalMart doesn't say anything about live plants being a necessity.
Yep, the information says if you just have the puffer, then a 20 gallon tank is fine but if you are adding (or have) other fish, you would need at least a 50 gallon. Puffer fish also need something to wear their teeth down so snails or some such other hard food. The 10 gallon tank is too small for the puffwer, definitely too small if there is another fish in it.
Did you find the move on Mollies on U-Tube? There is one on just gold fish also. Strange.
Yes, you need some plants. Have fun and enjoy. Remember all these fish are going to get bigger. The mollies will probably go 4 - 6 inches.
Yes. Well, I took Mr Puff to Petco and donated him. I decided that I didn't want to ruin his little life just because I jumped in without surveying the water first. I think once I am out of an apartment and have my bigger tanks I will go get another puffer and try again. Thanks for all your help!
Oh, random question. How many more fish can/ should I put in this 30 gallon? Currently I have 2 Mollies and 2 Platies. Thanks!
I am responding to the other email which tells me you took the puffer back. You are asking how many additional fish you can put in a 30 gallon tank with 2 mollies and 2 platies. If you think 1 inch per gallon (just as a rule of thumb) and subtract out for gravel, decorations etc a 30 gallon should leave you with about 27 gallons of swiming area. So the two mollies are 12 inches (as adults) and the two platies are 5 inches (as adults) which equals 17 inches. So you can add two other compatible fish whose adult size is not greater than 5 inches each. OK? Yeah probably best to take back the puffer. Good thinking on your part.
You're fine, but the male fish will chase the female to death. You should have at least three females per male, because of his desire to pro-create. I don't know about puffers, but you spelled betta wrong.
Here's where you went wrong. NEVER buy fish from Walmart they are cruel to their fish. They all have an illness and are not healthy fish and Walmart does not have any idea how to care for fish. They just want to make money. I had gotten a mollie and it had 50 babies and think first about how big each baby gets. hope this helps.
p.s get live plants like water sprites
thats not true i bought mine from walmart and it was a little agrisssive at the first 4 days then it got calm it was just scared thats all. all i got to say is love your green spotted puffers. i mean who can't love that little pug face of there's...lol..!
If the male molly is just chasing the female you have nothing to worry about. It's perfectly normal.
i have a gold mickey mouse platy and didnt know she was pregnant. she just gave birth to four babies and i think shes about to have more. how do they lose weight after having babies
Weight generally isn't a problem with theses fish. They may bloat if they are sick, or not getting an adequate diet however. Make sure you are doing regular water maintenance and providing them with a good quality and varied diet. You can read all about how to do that for the Platy Fish above, starting with the food and feeding, and then the care section following that.
I have got a female sunset platy I don’t have any males and she is new to my tank two months ago she had eight babies and now she has had one more! Your platy will have more babies if her belly gets bigger or stays the same size good luck but don’t be fooled if she doesn’t have them straight away!
We purchased a platy but as it's grown we think it may be a swordtail hybrid. It's in a 29 gallon tank with a variety of tetras, 2 ghost catfish, 2 grommies and 3 cory catfish. We think all of the fish in the tank are male (at least that was our intent). Initially they seemed to get along okay but now we are seeing the swordtail demonstrate aggression towards all of the fish in the tank.. He's chasing and nipping at them. Everything we read states that they are typically peaceful fish. Has anyone experienced aggression in platy fish before? If so, any suggestions on how to deal with it? We do have another tank he can go in, but it's only 5 gallons and we've read they need at least 10 and they like company... Any thoughts or advice would be very helpful! Thanks!
I have three sunset platies, two females and one male. One of my females belly has gotten quite big for a while now is there any chance she is pregnant? Please reply to tell me what you think.
She could be!
I would almost put money on it. She should look square from the front. Congratulations!! 🐟😨
I only have one platy but I think it is pregnant. Maybe it mated in the pet shop??? It definitly has got fatter! But not much,only a bit. Is it pregnant at all?
Yes.
I have one male platy. He lives with 3 mollies and many tetras in a 55 gallon fish tank. I love his bright orange colors. He is very active. He is one of the first fish that I ever had. I am going to get him a couple of females soon. They are a very hardy fishy and can live through just about anything. They really are a great beginner fish.
I have a 60 gallon tank with platies in it. Also I have a couple of mollies in with them. I am thinking of putting some sword tails in with them.
is it okay to add platys to five gallon tank with betta? the tank already has an algae eater in it.
Can maybe add one, but I really would go with a bigger tank if you really want to add some fish. Platys are livebearers so there is a good chance if you add a male and a female, babies will soon follow!
I have recently bought a platy and it was rather fat when I got it but I didn't think much of it. Now it's really, REEAALLY fat. Is she pregnant or have I been over feeding her? I give the fish in my tank 1 small pinch of food a day.
You should be able to see the fry inside. Will be a large black mass inside.
No, it's just quite pale around her belly. But she is so fat she HAS to be pregnant. She is very shy and hides most of the time. Is that a sign of pregnancy?
She has a gravid spot so she must be pregnant! It is very dark now!
HELP for my beloved platy, please!
I have a female red wag platy that has been 'treading water' at the top of the tank for some time now (over the course of 1 day). Normally an active fish, and the worst part is, my male platy literally is showing sadness and is trying to get her to see him, but she's not moving. It's such a sad sight :( no signs of ich, nothing unusual that I've noticed. Doesn't look like she's birthing at all.
My tank (20g):
1 female red wag platy
1 male sunset platy
2 male lyretail mollies
1 male dalmatian molly
1 blue mystery snail
4 platy fry (in maturation tank)
Planted, temp 77 degrees F, good and stable conditions, water changes (1/3) weekly, filter changes every 1-2 weeks.
I truly appreciate any help or advice for my platy. Thank you.
Buy another female platy.
It's hard to say what's going on, especially because you aren't seeing any signs of ich or other illnesses. You could try putting her in her own tank with good water conditions, and keep an eye on her. There's could be things going on that you can't see too. It doesn't sound like a swim bladder problem, but once in awhile one can have kidney problems which can make them not swim, but nothing can be done for that really. Also, Platies only have a lifespan of about 2 - 3 years, so it may just be old age or she may just not be a healthy fish.
you should only be changing your filters every 3 to 4 months. you need to have the proper bacterial growth in you tank if your changing your filter all the time your fish get stressed out your red wag platy will likley not survive and i highly recommed that you get some 'Stress Coat' for your tank in the mean time. sorry about your fish
I need some help of one of my neon coral vatius platy, I have 4 male fish in a 25L tank. Everything had been going fine for 5 months; 3 of the males seem to be picking on one. He is eating well but is very thin compared to the others. He’s been keeping out the way of the others and just hiding so not swimming around. He has no other signs of illness. I’m thinking it stress caused by the others as the other fish are fit and well, I’m not sure if parasites only affect one fish or the whole tank. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Yeah other fish picking on it will definitely stress it, and as you are seeing, it will then hide out more and won't eat as often or as well.