Tank temperature for Platy fish?/All females ok??

Question

My 10 gallon tank is set up (has been for a couple of weeks). I am finally ready to get two mickey mouse platys to start with (then add two more in a couple of weeks). Even with my heater on the lowest setting, the temperature is 78 degrees. I know some web sites list the temperature for playties as high as 82, but others list temps much lower. Is 78 degrees too warm? I may need a new heater that goes lower.
Also, if I am starting with two platys, what gender? Also, I am not interested in breeding more fish. Should I get all females? all males (likely not a good idea, but thought I'd ask) ? or will they be unhappy if not mixed gender??

Answer 1

The temperature is perfect, don't go any lower, since your heater is already on the lowest setting, it's your rommtemperature that actually causes the temperature to stay there and not the heater
As for getting platy's, you can get all males if you don't want to breed them, and I would start out with 3 though and not just 2. It's not justified that you can't get only males, they don't fight like betta males do or other kind
Tropical fish are non agressive
And they won't be unhappy if not mixed

Also before you add any fish check your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels
If you have a nitrates reading and your
Ammonia and Nitrite levels are at "0", then your tank is cycled


Hope that helps
Good luck


EB

Answer 2

Platy Temperature

Answer 3

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RE:
Tank temperature for Platy fish?/All females ok??
My 10 gallon tank is set up (has been for a couple of weeks). I am finally ready to get two mickey mouse platys to start with (then add two more in a couple of weeks). Even with my heater on the lowest setting, the temperature is 78 degrees. I know some web sites list the temperature for playties...

Answer 4

You are right about one thing that's a small tank. Rule for fish 1 gallon per 1 inch of fish. Since both breeds can get up to 2 inches that's 8 gallons for four fish. And another rule for fish you usually want 2 females per 1 male in tank. Since the tank is small I don't know how the platies will react to the guppies, generally they are excellent fish together in an ideal tank (bigger than 2.5 gallons). For producing they might try but I can't guarantee anything because again that is a small tank. If you want healthier fish you should get a bigger tank like a 10 gallon if you just want those four fish.

Answer 5

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Platies and guppies usually get along just fine. However, 2.5 gallons is a very small tank for four good sized fish. You might get away with it if you feed sparingly and do water changes 2-3 times per week. They will certainly try to breed but in such tight quarters I doubt the babies will be able to hide well and will probably all get eaten. Not to mention the fact that your tank is overcrowded with the parents alone! I recommend you upgrade to at least a ten gallon tank. Keep the 2.5 gallon as a hospital/quarantine tank. Testing the water is always a good idea. I recommend at least testing pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. The price varies. Expect to spend about $20 for a semi-decent kit. Though higher quality kits (that are probably a little more accurate) are around $50.

Answer 6

The temperature you have is fine. It may be the room temperature that won't allow the water to get any cooler, so changing heaters may not make a difference unless you see that the heater is coming on (there should be a light on the front that lets you know when the heater is on). If your lowest setting is 78o, they can live quite well in that, but in the future, you may want to get one that can be set lower.

If you don't want the fish to spawn, get all males. Stores usually have the males and females mixed together, so if you get any females, they would most likely already be pregnant. And platys can store sperm, so they can fertilize eggs for up to 6 months, giving birth to new fry about every 28 days. All males will be just fine together.

Answer 7

78 degrees is probably an ideal temperature for platys. 90 degrees is about the upper limit for platys and other live bearers. A group of all females will be fine. However you could still have offspring. Live bearers like platys swordtails guppies and mollies can store a sperm packet for as long as four months. Even after only one encounter with a male.

Answer 8

I think that is an OK temperature- i try to stay out of the 80's...you have the right idea in mind by letting the tank develop its own biofilter. I usually turn off the heater in the summer and watch the sticker at the bottom closely. Also, is your tank away from the window? That could be the reason why...I would recommend females...sometimes they come already pregnant. The general rule with males is two females per males. Females will be just fine without males, though :)

Answer 9

That temperature should be fine. My platies are thriving, and the tank is usually at 77-80. What's more important is avoiding shocking them, temperature wise, when doing water changes. Make sure the water you add is pretty close to the temperature in the tank.