Adding platys to a cherry barb hood

[CxN]

I have a small school of cherry barbs (2m, 4f) in a fully cycled 20g tall planted. Thinking of adding 3 platys (2f, 1m) because I love how beautiful they look. I feel all males might make it a war zone and only females, they might be just sad. I'm aware I'll have a population explosion in a few months with this combo.

Here's my rather existential question on this topic. Is it OK to let platys be there, reproducing and fries possibly eaten by other plats or barbs? My LFS isn't super open to taking back fries, I do not have space for a second tank. So I'm just toying with "let the nature run its course" route. I know this doesn't mean no fries, but at least their numbers would be in check.

Does anyone do this? Or am I just an awful guy to even consider this?

 

[FishFinatic77]

You can't keep platies with cherry barbs. Cherry barbs are soft water fish, and Platies need hard water.

 

[AilyNC]

Cherry barbs can be kept up to 357ppm so water wise can be kept with Platy. Both are generally peaceful community tank fish.

However the Platies will reproduce a lot.

 

[CxN]

Thank you! Yes, I do have soft water. I'll reconsider adding platys in this case.

AilyNC - off the topic a bit - I'm facing dilemma with my cherry barbs. One alpha male seems extra nippy and tiring out the females. I can see a rather docile younger male also learning to do the same. Do you advice that I remove the big guy? (So I'll end up with 5 cherry barbs) - Frankly, its not fun to watch this agression. Clearly nobody is happy there.

 

[AilyNC]

Thank you! Yes, I do have soft water. I'll reconsider adding platys in this case.

AilyNC - off the topic a bit - I'm facing dilemma with my cherry barbs. One alpha male seems extra nippy and tiring out the females. I can see a rather docile younger male also learning to do the same. Do you advice that I remove the big guy? (So I'll end up with 5 cherry barbs) - Frankly, its not fun to watch this agression. Clearly nobody is happy there.

I hate aggression which is why I never want platies ever again. My male was such a pest and now I've fry coming out my ears.

On Cherry Barbs I would refer to @NCaquatics' advise to stock 2 male in a group of 10. That's what I did. My bigger male is more dominant but he just likes his corner of the tank & cases the other male if he goes in that zone. There's a group 8 females so they really aren't too bothered at all by the males.

Instead of removing 1 I would go and add 4 female. Changes things around in the tank when you add them so fish think it's a new tank.

 

[CxN]

Platys are out then. I guess these are the perils of stocking large community fish in small tanks. Mine is a 20g high so I feel anything above 6 cherry barbs they would feel constrained. It's hard to watch females gasping for air as the alpha male chases her around all the time. I got cherry barbs because I liked their colors & activity .. and those articles that went on about them being "peaceful". Lol. I can see so many ppl reporting aggression among these guys even in 55g. Barbs after all barbs!

I wonder if there are any genuinely peaceful ones at all. I know corys are but my substrate is sharp. I'm thinking rasboras or lemon tetras plus a couple of amano shrimps. Any suggestions?

 

[itiwhetu]

Give heaps of hiding places, Lots of plants, and they will sort themselves out. Don't think platies are the best choice for your tank.

 

[AilyNC]

I thinky barbs are peaceful. I've white cloud mountain minnows that are relaxed too. I agree that lots of plants help and places to hide.

 

[CxN]

Thank you guys. This is certainly a sound advice. Will introduce a few more hiding places and hope that settles it!

Thanks Aily, I hope mine too learn to live in peace! I love WCs but my temps stay around 24-25 - I've always heard they like cooler temps.

 

[AilyNC]

Thank you guys. This is certainly a sound advice. Will introduce a few more hiding places and hope that settles it!

Thanks Aily, I hope mine too learn to live in peace! I love WCs but my temps stay around 24-25 - I've always heard they like cooler temps.

Yes my tank is around 21/22 and has cories, cherry barb & white clouds.