Too many males?
- Thread starter eadiemcreadie
- Start date
Hello and Welcome to the forums!
It seems that you should have the opposite ratio of 1 male to every 3 females.
one way is to replace some of your males with females
another way is to add just females like you said.
if you decide to add just make sure you're not overloading your tank.
Best of luck, I'm sure that many platies certainly color up your aquarium
It seems that you should have the opposite ratio of 1 male to every 3 females.
one way is to replace some of your males with females
another way is to add just females like you said.
if you decide to add just make sure you're not overloading your tank.
Best of luck, I'm sure that many platies certainly color up your aquarium
Hi, I'm fairly new here too, but welcome to the forum! I have Platys too, and my suggestion would be to get new homes for the excess males. Being Platys, you'll soon have new 'homegrown' fish to deal with, if the fry have enough good hiding places.
If you have that many males they will start picking on each other, unless you have a big tank, with lots of room for everyone. Just the same, a good ratio is 3-6 females per male, never with males outnumbering females. Will we get to see pix of them?
If you have that many males they will start picking on each other, unless you have a big tank, with lots of room for everyone. Just the same, a good ratio is 3-6 females per male, never with males outnumbering females. Will we get to see pix of them?
To add to what fiddlybits said, not only will the males start fighting over the females, but your females will be REALLY harrassed and stressed and it's possible they could be mated to death (I've never actually seen it, but I've heard of it in several different forums). Also, regardless of removing the males, you'll have fry. The only way to guarantee absolutely no fry is to start with virgin females (which are pretty much impossible to buy in local pet stores or chain stores because even if they keep their males and females separated, the breeders usually don't).
Petshop female live-bearers are often pregnant before they are purchased, and I think some are even pregnant before the breeder is sure which ones are the boys.
If you have only females, they'll run out of stored sperm eventually and then there should be no more babies..... unless one of the females changes sex. I've heard it happens sometimes in single-sex populations of fish, but I don't know if it happens to Platys.
But what's wrong with letting them breed? It's part of the fun of having live-bearers.
Hayer-- about your avatar, is that a Persian Puffer?
If you have only females, they'll run out of stored sperm eventually and then there should be no more babies..... unless one of the females changes sex. I've heard it happens sometimes in single-sex populations of fish, but I don't know if it happens to Platys.
But what's wrong with letting them breed? It's part of the fun of having live-bearers.
Hayer-- about your avatar, is that a Persian Puffer?
Hi again,
ive got a 95 ltr tank in answer to hayer, i will try to get some pics up when i find the lead that goes to my camera.
My local fish store takes in unwanted fish so i might take some males over and replce with some females, or im going to see if i have more room for some females, hands are a bit tiesd up with finding a way to stop one of my snails escaping.
ive got a 95 ltr tank in answer to hayer, i will try to get some pics up when i find the lead that goes to my camera.
My local fish store takes in unwanted fish so i might take some males over and replce with some females, or im going to see if i have more room for some females, hands are a bit tiesd up with finding a way to stop one of my snails escaping.
Then those apparent experts at my fish store are wrong,.
what signs would i get that the tank is over stocked
Non of the fish go up for air, so there must be plenty as provivded by my filter and air pump, plus i have 7 large plants in there and two moss balls, so that removes nitrates. P.H levels are fine so i cant really see a problem, please help
.what signs would i get that the tank is over stocked
Non of the fish go up for air, so there must be plenty as provivded by my filter and air pump, plus i have 7 large plants in there and two moss balls, so that removes nitrates. P.H levels are fine so i cant really see a problem, please help
Last edited:
I've benn doing some research and ive found that the most common signs that might point to an overstocked tank are:
Fish are aggressive.
Nipped fins or split fins.
Disease seems a constant factor.
Maintenance is required more than 1-2 times a month.
Nitrates keep rising even with 25-30% monthly water changes.
Yet there is none of this in my tank are you sure im overstocked?
Fish are aggressive.
Nipped fins or split fins.
Disease seems a constant factor.
Maintenance is required more than 1-2 times a month.
Nitrates keep rising even with 25-30% monthly water changes.
Yet there is none of this in my tank
are you sure im overstocked?
I 2nd the earlier opinion to get a test kit and monitor your water quality. 'Gasping' for air is not the only sign of poor conditions. How long has the tank been established and is it cycled? Fish can suffer in silence while ammonia and nitrite are causing permanent damage.
With just a little bit of patience and listening to those that have no ulterior motive in give out advice, things can work out great for happy/healthy fish.
*BOUNCINGS
With just a little bit of patience and listening to those that have no ulterior motive in give out advice, things can work out great for happy/healthy fish.
*BOUNCINGS
Last edited: