

It will not require frequent cleaning and changing of water as a 5-gallon tank does because the water is not polluted quickly. If you want your platies to breed, put seven males and 14 females in the 30-gallon tank. You can keep up to 21 platies in a 30-gallon tank. However, avoid changing the water all at once. But cleaning your 20-gallon tank once a month is acceptable if you have an efficient filter.

Unlike some fish that don’t require a filter, platies need one and frequent water changes. It is ideal to start with if you’re on a budget. The minimum tank size for breeding platies is 20 gallons (110 liters).Ī 20-gallon tank is great for beginners because it is relatively easy to clean and maintain and will need fewer substrates and decorations than larger tanks.
#Goldfish in a 5 gallon tank pro#
Pro tip: I don’t recommend a 20-gallon aquarium for breeding platies because it will overcrowd quite fast. I’ve found that the same tank can carry more male platies than female ones. If you want more platies in a 20-gallon tank, keep males alone.

Therefore, a 20-gallon tank should accommodate 8 female and 4 male platyfish.įemale platies are a few inches bigger than male platies.

You can mix male and female platies in the same tank, but remember to have 2 females for every male to reduce aggression in the tank. It is recommended to keep a maximum of 12 platies in a 20-gallon tank. RECOMMENDED: Read my guide on keeping platyfish in a 10-gallon tank here. Avoid using soaps and chemicals to clean fish tanks. After removing the platies and the water, wipe the inside of the tank with a paper towel. Most importantly, overcrowding five-gallon tanks with platies may cause poor filtration, pollute the water, and kill your platies.ĭespite the small size, a five-gallon tank is much easier to clean and maintain than a 50-gallon tank. However, I don’t recommend mixing male and female platies in a five-gallon tank because it is not convenient for breeding. These could be all males, all females, or mixed platies. Keep three platies in a five-gallon tank. Here are some tank sizes and the number of platyfish to keep in each: Tank size Number of female + male platyfish 5 gallons 2 females and 1 male 10 gallons 4 females and 2 males 20 gallons 8 females and 4 males 30 gallons 14 females and 7 males 40 gallons 18 females and 9 males 50 gallons 22 females and 11 males How many platies in a 5-gallon tank?Īlthough a five-gallon tank is small for bigger fish, it is the minimum tank size for platies. The problem is that as tank size increases, maintenance difficulty also increases significantly. However, I find that the bigger the aquarium, the healthier and happier the platies. Similarly, the smallest recommended platyfish tank size is five gallons. I recommend keeping platies in multiples of three for optimal social behavior. Platies are very active and require adequate space to eat, play, and hide. A three-inch adult platyfish needs three gallons of water for maximum comfort. The rule of thumb is to have one gallon for every inch of a platyfish. A tank will also carry more dwarf platies than big platies. The right tank size for platies depends on the number and size of platies you want to keep, their social behavior, and their activity level.
