Keeping Mollys and Platys together?

**martiemcg** · 12-09-2009, 02:50 PM

I got a 10 gallon tank for my Blue Platys but while I was there my daughter talked me into 3 Black Mollys for her. I don't want to risk my Blue Platys testing if they'll get along with the Mollys, so I was going to take the Tuxedo Platys from the tank with the Corys, put the Blues in with the Corys and the Tuxedo Platys in with the Black Mollys when their QT is over.

Will 3 Black Mollys get on with 3 Tuxedo Platys in a 10 gallon tank?

I m/ 2 f of each.

**rich311k** · 12-09-2009, 02:57 PM

Mollys will get a bit large for a ten gallon tank but they should get along together. They are both mixes of each other anyway.

**Northernguy** · 12-09-2009, 04:59 PM

Black mollies also have a rep for nipping and being real pushy buggers.
I have never owned any but I have often seen them in there own tanks at the lfs because of these reasons.

**robnepper** · 12-09-2009, 05:16 PM

I would have to agree with both posts. They will get larger than is cool for a ten and they can be agressive. In a bigger tank with Baloon Molies, lets say, you'd be fine.

**martiemcg** · 12-09-2009, 05:30 PM

Okey dokey then. Thanks for the info. I definitely want a peaceful tank. It makes my blood pressure go up if there is constant harassment going on.

S'pose I'll have to keep perusing Craigslist for a bigger tank (I've been wanting a 29) or make my daughter mad/sad and force her to let me find homes for her 4 little Koi that have usurped my 55 gallon.

She keeps thinking we're gonna have a pond. She believes this with all her heart. I however do not have much faith in things unseen.

**King Tut** · 12-11-2009, 03:07 PM

I have a 20 tall, 29, and 45 with Black molly, dalmation molly, baloon molly and platy all in the same tank. Everyone gets along just fine. They all started out together and everyone is happy. Just remember platy and molly breed very easily. It isn't hard to get overrun with fry. I will say my all female tanks are calmer than my all male tank.

**annageckos** · 12-14-2009, 03:52 PM

You do know that koi get very large and are a cool water fish, right. Even 4 small one's in a 55 is pushing it, IMO. Even more so if there are other fish. As far as a pond, while not long term, I have used kiddie pools with a small pond filter for turtle ponds before. It worked well. Cattle/horse stock tanks also work well, thou I still think in the long run will be too small. Koi can get up to 2+ft. And I agree with what the others stated. Mollies and platies can get along fine, but 10gallon is too small for the mollies. And they can breed together too.

**jay2487** · 12-14-2009, 05:27 PM

Martie PM me I have 3 aquariums in Central FL bigger than a 10g and will sell for dirt cheap.

**Lab_Rat** · 12-14-2009, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by annageckos

You do know that koi get very large and are a cool water fish, right. Even 4 small one's in a 55 is pushing it, IMO. Even more so if there are other fish. As far as a pond, while not long term, I have used kiddie pools with a small pond filter for turtle ponds before. It worked well. Cattle/horse stock tanks also work well, thou I still think in the long run will be too small. Koi can get up to 2+ft. And I agree with what the others stated. Mollies and platies can get along fine, but 10gallon is too small for the mollies. And they can breed together too.

Agree with annageckos, except for the part about mollies and platies crossbreeding. Mollies can crossbreed with guppies, platies can crossbreed with swordtails. Mollies and platies don't crossbreed, they are of two different genus.

**Scrup** · 12-16-2009, 03:49 AM

Great advice above on the mollies and platties. Probably won't work well in a 10G.

As for your 55g koi tank.....

At a minimum to keep them in the long run you are gonna need a pond of at a minimum 1000G, and you wanna shoot for a depth of about 3-4 feet, deeper the better.

Healthy koi will grow about an inch a month, maxing out at a little over 3 feet.