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Anonymous
I'm thinking of getting two platies. I've had a goldfish before, but that's as much experience that I have. I've spent the last two hours reading up on fish stuff.... /an/, thoughts?
>> Anonymous
Bump cause of DDoS attacks
>> Anonymous
>>283787
Get at least 6, since they are swarm fish.
Less and they'll be in constant stress.
Get more females than males. At least 2 to 1 or more.
>> Anonymous
>>283935
I thought platies were community fish but not necessarily schoolers?

OP, what size tank? What's your filtration/heating/lighting like?
>> Anonymous
>>283955
I was thinking of getting two platies in a 5 gallon tank, but should I really get at least six? I'm still thinking about lighting, filtration, heat, etc. since I'm starting from scratch.
>> Anonymous
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>>283974
5g wouldn't be bad for two. I'd recommend two males since females can arrive at pet stores pregnant and you don't want babies. They're not difficult to sex.

Just keep in mind that platies are tropical fish. That is, they do best in warm water. I think 72-76F is recommended but I haven't been active in the hobby lately and my memory is rusty on specifics.

Regardless, if you don't get one of those all-in-one kits, you can still find suitably sized heaters and filters for a 5g. You might even want to do some price comparing since setting up a ten gallon may not be much more expensive. Depends on how much room you've got and how much you're willing to spend, I guess.
>> Anonymous
>>284068
OP here. I was just looking at some tanks and I found a nice 5-gallon all in one tank.

Also, will two males fight?
>> Anonymous
>>284072
They shouldn't. They're not like bettas or anything. Just make sure you have a decent decoration or two plus some plants to break up the tank, just in case they do have a disagreement.
>> Anonymous
>>284164
Alrighty, thanks! :)
>> Anonymous
Also, anything else I should know about platies?
>> Anonymous
>>285414
Not really, they're pretty simple fish. They come in about a zillion different colors and patterns and are generally really hardy.
>> Anonymous
>>285629
Okay, thanks.
>> Anonymous
Well, a good rule of thumb is that you can have an inch of fish for every gallon in your tank, and since platys are about an inch or an inch and a half, I wouldn't get more than 5 with that tank. Also, I'm pretty sure a good ratio is one male to two or three females, but that might just be with guppies (which I greatly prefer because of the wide variety of colors and shapes, not to mention that they're as easy to keep as goldfish as long as you have a filter). But all livebearers (Mollies, guppies, platys, etc.) breed like CRAZY, so prepare to either buy another tank or have someone that would be willing to take the offspring (I hear some pet stores will buy babies).
>> Anonymous
>>285967
>as easy to keep as goldfish
FTW goldfish are not easy
>> Anonymous
>>286003
Well by "easy", I meant hardy, y'know, not too sensitive to temperature, stuff like that. Plus I suppose it really depends on they type of goldfish, a comet, for instance, is the kind of fish you could practically keep in a bathroom sink filled with water and it would survive (NOT thrive) for a while. But whatever.