I just purchased 5 red mickey mouse platies; I have a 6 gallon tank; is this too many?

Question

they are swimming near the top of the aquarium, is this a bad sign?

Answer 1

You should be fine. It is usually a good idea to have 1 gallon per 1 inch of fish. A platy is usually an inch or less from a pet store. They are probably just getting used to it, or else there is not enough air for them in the water. How is your filtration set up? Check that for certain, but as far as the tank size-you're good.

Answer 2

The "Rule of Thumb" for amounts of fish is seriously overused, and doesn't apply to a lot of situations.

Some fish only get to about 1 or even 1/2 inch. So should you be able to keep 40 half inch fish in a 20 gallon aquarium?

The answer is no.
You would be far overstocked.


However, the same can be applied to the other end of the spectrum.

You could add more bottom feeders or suckers (the small kind, not plecos, they can get over a foot long and will eat your plants) even if you're fully stocked according to that rule.

Also, you can be overstocked, and maintain your tank by more frequent water changes, and you will be fine.

As long as you don't have too many fish that will be in the same area of a tank (for example, you wouldn't want 20 hatchetfish in a 20 gallon tank, because they all stay at the top) you should be fine.

To answer your question:
Check your chemicals either by tanking a water sample (if you fill a film canister, you should have plenty) to your local pet store, most will test if for free.

If it's fine, then it's one of two things:

1.) The fish are simply new, and will get settled in a couple days. Add some African Sword plants, and leave the lights off to give them a better sense of security.

2.) They are diseased from the store.
If you bought them from a major retailer (Petsmart or Petco), you can bring them back in 14 or 15 days respectively for a full refund.

Also, in the future, never add more than 3 fish at a time to reduce stress both on the fish and on the chemistry.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

1 inch of fish per 1 gallon is bull spit. Just make sure you do not add anymore fish and keep the temperature around 70-75, I am only saying this because 6 gallon tanks usually do not come with heaters, and you will be fine. Platies are naturally topdwelling fish, so no if they are swimming at the top this is a good sign. If they were swimming on the bottom of the tank, then you would have problems, lol. Hope I could help! Sounds like a wonderful tank.

Answer 4

The reason that they're at the top (assuming you have a filter to provide oxygen in the water) is that they're suffering from ammonia poisoning. Ammonia is a part of your fishs' wastes, but it's toxic to them. In time, there will be bacteria that will convert it to less toxic forms, but for now, you need to change about 50% of the water in the tank to lower the concentration. I'll post more in a bit, but you NEED to do the water change!

ADDITION: The links below will explain what's happening to your fish. Essentially, the ammonia interferes with their ability to use dissolved oxygen, so they "gasp" at the top to try and get more. Bacteria will eventually convert this to nitrite (also toxic), then to nitrate, which is much less harmful. Until you have the amount of bacteria needed (and as they're reproducing your water will look cloudy - this is normal) you'll need to do frequent partial water changes. For the number of fish in the tank, you may want to do 20% of the water twice each week. Once the tank has fully cycled (explained n the link below), you may only need to do 25% once a week. Although the number of fish that you have should be okay if you don't overfeed your fish (give only what they can eat in 2-3 minutes, 1-2 times per day) and have a good filter that's the proper size for your tank. It would have been better had you purchased only two fish, or used a technique called fishless cycling to prepare your tank before adding more fish.

The other concern here is the gender of your fish. Hopefully, you only have males. If you have a mix, or only females, there's a good chance you'll have babies - LOTS of babies. Even if you only have females, if they had been kept with males in the tank at the store, the females are capable of storing sperm, and can continue to give birth to live young about every 28 days for up to 6 months. That will definitely overcrowd your tank.


NOTE: Platys feed at the top, but should swim at all levels of the tank. If they're only at the top when you're near the tank, this may be an "expetation" of food - this is a natural behavior, but doesn't mean you should give in every time they seem to want to be fed. It's when they're at the top whether you're around the tank or not that water quality is the problem.

Answer 5

You will be fine, just dont add anymore fish to the tank then you already have. I work in a aquarium store, and I know the 1 gal per inch of fish rule and I know the adult size of the plattie, and your going a little above the rule. But it's ok, just make sure you have a good filter, airation and a heater! And remember platies are live barers so expect babies, but dont fret unless you try to take action to try to keep the fry alive the parents and the other tank mates normally eat them all. Best of luck with your platies!

Answer 6

Well platies grow to about 2 inches and so you may want to return 2 of them. Mickey mouse platies like to swim in the middle of the tank but since you just bought them they are adjusting.
Most stores will take the fish back,
Good luck!

Answer 7

1 inch of fish per gallon of water. Do you have gravel in your tank too? That means more water displacement. Try a fish that will exist with only 2, maybe 3 of them in there. Smaller tanks are harder to maintain but it can be done.
Platies usually swim at the top or middle.
Look at this site..www.aquariumfish.com
Good luck!

Answer 8

As for now, provide your fish aeration if you have any.

Have you cycled you tank yet before you got you fish?
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/using_fish_to_cycle_your_tank.html

For now too, feed your fish everyother day. No, I don't think that amount of fish in a 6 gallon tank would do any bad damage. You should at least be worried with ammonia and nirite spike.

Answer 9

Those platy's will get to be about 1.5" apiece, that will be too many when they grow up. What kind of filtration are you using? That is the real issue, too many fish in too small of a space makes really unsafe water conditions.




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Answer 10

the general rule for fish in aquariums that i like to go by

is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water....so i believe you are ok with your 5 platies...

platies are schooling fish and if they are new to the home they may be a little scared to explore. as long as they are not floating then i think they will be ok!