new tank setup

ollecram

i just got a new tank and I'm wondering what fish to put in it. i was thinking of putting one male betta, 6 red wagtail platys (4 females and 2 males). and then maybe 4 mickey mouse plays (3 female and 1 male). would these fish all be compatible with each other. im also hoping to have some fry so i set up a thick forest in the corner of my tank. :D you think these would be too many fish? thanks
-ollecram

southafrica1001

hey. what is the size of the tank first of all? the betta and platys should be ok but it depends on their personality. i keep a betta with live bearers and he is fine however he does chase the livebeares but it is more of a territorial thing and no one gets hurt. good luck :D

It'sJames

My platies have always done well with my bettas and vice versa. That's a lot of livebearers though. With that many prolific breeders, you're likely to have more fry than you can handle, especially if you set up a densly planted corner for fry to hide. How large is the tank?

ollecram

i decided im just gonna get the one male betta and then the 6 wagtail platys. i have a 20 long aquarium. how many fish would be the max that i should put in there? what are some other nice fish that i might be able to put in instead of the mickey mouse platys if i want some more fish later on?

It'sJames

Well, assuming the livebearers don't overpopulate your tank, bottom dwellers like cories would be nice. Or maybe some kind of tetra - they tend to have very light bioloads. Cardinal tetras look really cool against my sunburst & red coral platies. Maybe even some kind of dwarf cichlid...

ollecram

for the cory, do they need to have really smooth floor? cuz i heard that it can bother their whiskers. im not sure if my gravel would be good for that. its not rough, but i dont think its that smooth either. would a shrimp do well in my tank?

ollecram

how about this combo?
6 red wag platys (4 female 2 male)
4 tiger barbs
and maybe one Dwarf Gourami? can they all live in the same water parameters and everything? (aggressiveness issues?)
-ollecram

1077

Tiger barbs and gourami's proably not a good fit. Tigers are relentless fin nippers for the most part. There are always exceptions .

ollecram

but the platys and the tigers are ok together? or just the gouramis and the platys right?

1077

Tiger Barbs can and many times will nip the fins of any fish slower than them. This doesn't leave many fish to choose from. I would steer you away from the Tiger Barb, Platys and gourami could work. Maybe one gourami. They can be agressive if you end up with a couple males which would in my view be probable.