Platies and tetras in same tank?

[jessie]

Hello,
I have a community tank with mostly tetras and a cory cat. I also have a blue ram in the tank. I lost quite a few of the cardinal tetras and some others due to the fact that my water is quite hard GH of8 and pH of 7.2. I was looking at some other fish that could be added to my tank that like these conditions. I wanted to add a few platies, but what I have been reading says they like aquarium salt. I can't do this with my tetras and cory cats. also, I don't know of too many people who keep rams with platies. Has anybody has success with this, and can the platies do fine without salt added?

[Lady Hobbs]

They will be fine and both are great community fish. My platies get no salt and do just fine.

[Chrona]

Hello,
I have a community tank with mostly tetras and a cory cat. I also have a blue ram in the tank. I lost quite a few of the cardinal tetras and some others due to the fact that my water is quite hard GH of8 and pH of 7.2. I was looking at some other fish that could be added to my tank that like these conditions. I wanted to add a few platies, but what I have been reading says they like aquarium salt. I can't do this with my tetras and cory cats. also, I don't know of too many people who keep rams with platies. Has anybody has success with this, and can the platies do fine without salt added?

For the cardinal tetras, you need to do a very long acclimation process, as they are sensitive to quick changes in water parameter. Once they are fully adjusted (usually takes 1-2 weeks) they are VERY hardy. Float the bag for 20 minutes, then scoop half a cup of tank water into the bag every 10 minutes for a minimum of an hour (I usually do like 2+ hours) Dump out some of the water in the bag when it gets full. My well water is extremely hard (something like 12 dh) with a pH of 7.4, and my cardinals are doing great after their settling in period. Also, make sure to get cardinals at the fish store that have bright red coloration. Lack of coloration indicates that they either just got them in (from South America no less) or they are too stressed for purchase. Remeber that most fish can deal with most water conditions given the proper time to adjust.

[jessie]

Thanks for you input. I lost all but one of my cardinals and two of my rummy nosed tetras during the first initial two weeks. Then I had an ich outbreak (thanks for everbody's input with treatment). The tank is now ich free, water parameters look good, and everybody seems to be doing well. (I will try to get a pic posted soon, I am a poor photographer). I had just added a school of serpae tetras because they are known to be more hardy. I added six thinking this would help with some of the fin nipping behaviors they are known to have. I thought that they would keep the aggression within their own group by having this many. Well, they are terrorizing the tank. They are even nipping at my cory cats and everybody else in the tank who was peaceful has suddenly turned aggressive. My blue ram has become terriritorial over a certain corner, my emperor tetra chases the serpaes, and the serpaes chase the rummy nose and the cory cat. Even the cardinal tetra has gotten to chasing the others. I am thinking about taking the serpaes back and getting a small group of platies. I like the red color the serpaes bring to the tank, but they are way too much activity for what i have in there.

[jessie]

My LFS is running a sale right now. I got the tetras for a dollar, not sure what else they have on sale, but hopefully they have some others that are appealling that I can exchange them for.

[Chrona]

Thanks for you input. I lost all but one of my cardinals and two of my rummy nosed tetras during the first initial two weeks. Then I had an ich outbreak (thanks for everbody's input with treatment). The tank is now ich free, water parameters look good, and everybody seems to be doing well. (I will try to get a pic posted soon, I am a poor photographer). I had just added a school of serpae tetras because they are known to be more hardy. I added six thinking this would help with some of the fin nipping behaviors they are known to have. I thought that they would keep the aggression within their own group by having this many. Well, they are terrorizing the tank. They are even nipping at my cory cats and everybody else in the tank who was peaceful has suddenly turned aggressive. My blue ram has become terriritorial over a certain corner, my emperor tetra chases the serpaes, and the serpaes chase the rummy nose and the cory cat. Even the cardinal tetra has gotten to chasing the others. I am thinking about taking the serpaes back and getting a small group of platies. I like the red color the serpaes bring to the tank, but they are way too much activity for what i have in there.

Yeah, I'm having the same aggression problem with my tank. My cardinals and my SAE have been getting more and more aggressive. I personally think it's an overstocking issue, but I've been testing different factors and will let you know if I come up with anything.

[jessie]

I rearranged the tank a little and added more plants. Thought this would help to establish territories. I think part of my problem is that I lost so many in my initial setup period, I am down to one cardinal, one emperor, and one blue ram. (My rummy nosed still have 4). The fact that there is no other of their kind in there may be adding to their aggression, but the rams and the emperor were quite expensive and I wasn't planning on adding more cause not sure how long they will make it. My blue ram seems to do better solo than with another. He terrorized his mate when I had a female in there. It's been too long to take these three solo fish back to the LFS, and they probalby won't want to take them back if I tell them all their mates died and Iwant to return them. I still have a healthy group of rummy nosed, and they are chasing each other! My tank is 29 gallon, so I didn't think it was overstocked, but could be a tad. I am definitely at my upper limit if it is not overstocked.

[Chrona]

I rearranged the tank a little and added more plants. Thought this would help to establish territories. I think part of my problem is that I lost so many in my initial setup period, I am down to one cardinal, one emperor, and one blue ram. (My rummy nosed still have 4). The fact that there is no other of their kind in there may be adding to their aggression, but the rams and the emperor were quite expensive and I wasn't planning on adding more cause not sure how long they will make it. My blue ram seems to do better solo than with another. He terrorized his mate when I had a female in there. It's been too long to take these three solo fish back to the LFS, and they probalby won't want to take them back if I tell them all their mates died and Iwant to return them. I still have a healthy group of rummy nosed, and they are chasing each other! My tank is 29 gallon, so I didn't think it was overstocked, but could be a tad. I am definitely at my upper limit if it is not overstocked.

By the way, don't add more cardinals in the hope of reducing aggression or trying to get them to school. I went from 1 to 3 to 5 and they still just chase each other around. Well, the new cardinals schooled for the first few days, but after they felt more secure, it was battle royale again. And it doesn't sound like your tank is overstocked, so you may be right about aggression carrying over. Maybe your fish need a common enemy to beat up on, like a picture of George Bush taped to the tank ;)

[jessie]

No, I was done with the cardinals. I had 5 of 6 die! I was kind of hoping this lonely one would just kick the bucket so I could be done with him....(Hope nobody gets offended at this comment-I am feeding him and treating him good). I had never heard they were known to be nippy or aggressive.

Uh oh, this is going to get political. We may have to take this to the "controversial" section of the forum. LOL

[jessie]

As a side note, if I get a small group of platies, how can i distinguish male from female?

[Chrona]

As a side note, if I get a small group of platies, how can i distinguish male from female?

After a few weeks, the female ones will be the pregnant ones

Sorry, I had to put in for my daily smart-ass remark quota. :hmm3grin2orange:

Females are generally bigger. Males have this short tube called a gonopodium in place of the anal fin, whereas the female has a fin there.

[jessie]

You're funny! Sounds like the equivalent of a fish penis!

[jessie]

Ok, I just tore my whole tank apart getting those little devils out of there. Im off to the fish store. I'll let you guys know what I come home with. Peace out.

[Chrona]

You're funny! Sounds like the equivalent of a fish penis!

Yes, well put. I was trying to be more discreet but that's basically what it is :P

[jessie]

Ok, I just returned home with four orange platies. (on sale for 88 cents). Let's see how these guys do.