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Ever since I got my baby Platy fish from my son I’ve been considering buying a bigger tank. I thought it would be lovely to have a larger aquarium. I could build up a community tank by adding other kinds of fish to live alongside my Platys. But what fish will live with Platys? Because I wasn’t sure which fish would make good Platy tank mates I did some research. And I was surprised by the variety of other fish that would live happily with my Platy fish.
The Platy fish is a non-aggressive peaceful fish that will live quite happily with other types of peaceful community fish such as Guppies and Mollies. Platy fish are not only happy to share their tank with other small non-aggressive fish but also with some types of shrimp and snails. But what type of fish should you choose as a tank mate for your Platys? Here are a few options for you to choose from. And also a few things to consider before buying tank mates for your Platy fish.
Can Platy Fish And Goldfish Live Together?
Both the Platy and the Goldfish are considered ideal ‘beginner’ fish for people new to the aquarium hobby.
But can Platy fish live with Goldfish?
Although opinions vary a little, I was surprised to find that the general answer seems to be ‘No’.
So I’ll start with the negative reasons why Platys and Goldfish don’t make good tank mates.
Platys and Goldfish need different water conditions to thrive in. Even if you have temperate rather than tropical Platys, the Goldfish likes the water a little cooler. And it’s not just the difference in temperature that can cause a problem. Goldfish also produce a lot of waste. So they can foul up the water pretty quickly by causing an ammonia spike along with all the mess. This sort of negative change in water quality can cause your Platys to become stressed and ill.
There’s also the issue of size. There are lots of different kinds of Goldfish to choose from. But as adults, Goldfish are far bigger in size than a fully grown Platy fish. It’s not unknown for large Goldfish to eat a Platy. And they will certainly scoff any Platy fry as soon as they spot them. So if you want to breed your Platys, or would just like some of the babies to survive, don’t add Goldfish to your aquarium or they won’t stand a chance.
Another basic point is that Platys and Goldfish don’t always get along too well. You can end up with a lot of fin nipping, pushing and shoving. And because the Platy is a fast moving little fish with a good appetite it may well take the lion’s share of the food. Leaving the Goldfish hungry, unhappy and malnourished.
So as you can see, the Goldfish and the Platy are unlikely to be the best of tank mates.
Are there any positives to keeping Goldfish and Platys together?
While the general consensus is that it’s not a good idea to keep Platys and Goldfish in the same tank some people say it can be done.
And there are several reasons for this.
You have a better chance of keeping Platys and Goldfish together if you have a large tank. So there’s plenty of room for your Goldfish to reach full size without your Platys getting in the way. Having plenty of room will reduce the chance of fin nipping and fighting.
When it comes to water temperature you need to keep it regulated so it’s cool enough for the Goldfish but not too cold for your Platys. Even if the Platys are temperate rather than the tropical variety.
You’ll need to keep on top of the water quality which does mean more time spent on tank maintenance. You’ll also need to make sure that all your fish are getting enough food at meal times by watching who’s eating what, so nobody goes without their dinner. Then adjust your feeding routine accordingly.
If you don’t want to breed your Platys and don’t have a problem with your Goldfish ‘hoovering up’ the Platy fry when they are born then this side of aquarium life won’t be a problem for you.
So, although Goldfish are not the ideal tank mate for the Platy it can be done if you’re willing to put in the effort and accept that it might not work out quite as you planned.
Can Platy Fish Live With Bettas?
Platys and Bettas can live happily with each other but there are a few things to bear in mind.
You will need a good sized tank if you’re going to keep Platy fish and Betta together. Both fish like to swim around a lot so it’s important that you don’t overcrowd the tank. Also the Betta fish is territorial (especially the male) and won’t be best pleased if the Platys keep getting in the way. You can end up having problems with fighting and injury if your Betta is short on personal space.
While the Betta can be aggressive it’s also capable of tolerating, even ignoring, the presence of the lively little Platy. Because even though the Platy is very active it’s non-aggressive and not prone to fin nipping. Which is good news for a Betta’s beautiful flowing fins.
It can come down to personality though. A more aggressive and fiercely territorial Betta won’t tolerate having other fish in the aquarium. So it’s important to keep an eye on what’s happening in the tank. If you see any fighting or bullying you will need to keep your Platys and Betta in separate aquariums.
Can Platy Fish Live With Guppies?
The short answer to this is ‘Yes’ they can. But what makes Platys and Guppies such good tank mates?
Both the Platy and the Guppy are a colourful and lively little fish. The Platy is a bit bigger but there’s not much in it. And as they are both non-aggressive community fish you shouldn’t have any problems with compatibility. In fact your Platys and Guppies should interact in a friendly way and become the best of tank mates.
They both like similar water and tank conditions. They also share a similar diet, with the Guppy needing a bit more meat than the Platy. But as long as you take this into account mealtimes should be straight forward.
Both Platys and Guppies are livebearers giving birth to fully formed and ready to swim fry. They don’t interbreed because they are from different types of fish family but they both breed regularly even in an aquarium environment.
As with the Platy it’s important to get the Guppy male female ratio right. With 1 male to every 3 females in both fish genres. If you don’t want your Platys or your Guppies to reproduce (often at an alarming rate!) then only keep one gender in your tank.
If you’re happy for them to multiply then make sure there’s plenty of hiding spaces for the newly emerged fry to hide in. Both the Platy and the Guppy will eat the fry whether it’s their own or someone else’s. Neither are fussy when it comes to a tasty snack.
Can Platy Fish Live With Mollies?
Platys and Mollies make great tank mates. Both fish are peaceful community fish, so aggression shouldn’t be a problem.
The Molly is larger than the Platy but the size difference is minimal. They’re also similar in their overall look too (depending on variety). Although the Molly is less rounded than the Platy fish giving it a slightly sleeker look. Nonetheless, you often have to look closely to tell them apart, particularly when they are young.
Both kinds of fish will live happily in the same water conditions and aquarium environment. Which makes taking care of them simple. They also share the same diet so feeding them at mealtimes is straight forward.
Despite their similarities they won’t interbreed. So you won’t end up with a tank full of hybrid fry. You may still end up with lots of babies though as both the Platy and Molly breed freely in an aquarium environment. You can, of course, avoid this by only keeping one gender in your aquarium.
Just like the Platy the Molly will eat their own fry and also anyone else’s. So if you want to keep your baby Mollies, or baby Platys, you will need to make sure there are enough hiding places in the tank. Such as plants, grasses and ornaments with lots of tiny hidey holes. Or move the fry into a separate tank to keep them safe from hungry adults.
Can Platy Fish Live With Swordtails?
Swordtails come in various colour variations. But only the male has the distinctive long sword shaped tail fin. The female Swordtails’ tail fin is fan shaped. So it looks just like the tail fin in both the male and female Platy.
If you want to keep both Platys and Swordtails in the same aquarium then it’s good news. The Swordtail is as non-aggressive and friendly as the Platy. Both make a great community fish to liven up and add colour to any tank.
When it comes to water and tank conditions the Swordtail and the Platy like the same kind of environment. So you won’t need to do anything extra if you add Swordtails to your Platy aquarium.
They both also enjoy the same kind of diet. Which will make feeding them easy as you won’t need to provide several kinds of food to make sure your fish stay happy and well nourished.
There is one thing that you should consider though if you’re planning to keep both Platys and Swordtails together in your aquarium.
They can and most probably will interbreed.
Because the Platy and the Swordtail are closely related in the fish family scheme of things they are capable of producing hybrid fry. As long as the pregnancy is a healthy one, and tank conditions and diet are good, the fry will be born sturdy and active. Whether they will be more Platy-like or Swordtail-like is something that you will have to leave to nature to decide. Although as far as I can gather the Swordtail gene is likely to be stronger than the Platy gene. Either way you will end up with some attractive and healthy babies. And they will be babies, that as adults, will be capable of reproducing in their own right.
Because the Platy is such a gentle and friendly fish they are happy to live with other non-aggressive community fish. And not just the ones I’ve covered above. They are also content to share their aquarium with some types of shrimp and snails.
