I Have 5 Platies What Else Should I Add To Tank?.

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I suggest a small iridescent shark or two. I know, I know, they can get big. They won't as long as you don't put them in a bigger tank. I have some, and I know they are pleasant, funny, and non aggressive fish who have dealt pleasantly with my own platies and swordtails.

Irredescent sharks grow to 4ft long, even if its only an inch long when you buy it, a 4gallon is still waaay too small for an irredescent shark, look at the pics if you don't believe me;

http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/panga...gasiu/172_F.PHP

I don't think there are any shark types that will go in a tank under 25gals.

karen4kevin, if you upgrade to a 15gal that would be alot better and drastically open up alot of stocking optunitys- i'd still do a fishless cycle though whatever tank you get . 1male and 4female platys would be good in a 15gal, you could also get some corys like 4-5 albino/bronze or pepppered corys if you go for sand or fine rounded gravel substrate as well, and maybe a tetra species or two? What sort of fish are you into ?

 

[karen4kevin]

thatnks every one ill let you no in the next few days wen the fishies are in there new home

 

[IridescentSharkLover]

Sheesh. I wasn't suggesting one for a four gallon. They said they were getting a bigger tank.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Sheesh. I wasn't suggesting one for a four gallon. They said they were getting a bigger tank.

Yes, a 15 or 20 gallon; that is about half the length of a grown irridescent shark. As Tokis pointed out, irridescent sharks need seriously big room; if you can't provide that you shouldn't keep them.

Sheesh. I wasn't suggesting one for a four gallon. They said they were getting a bigger tank.

Yes, a 15 or 20 gallon; that is about half the length of a grown irridescent shark. As Tokis pointed out, irridescent sharks need seriously big room; if you can't provide that you shouldn't keep them. What you were actually suggesting, looking at your first post, was that the shark would not grow if kept in too small living quarters. Stunting is a cruel practice which is not encouraged by this forum. Some fish may indeed survive stunted- some children survive stunted from Roumanian orphanages- but they are not having their needs met, and are likely to have their lifespans shortened. And stunting does not work for all fish, some just die instead. A fish may be ok as a juvenile, but anyone who buys an animal in my opinion has the responsibility for giving it a decent life for the whole of its natural lifespan (or pass it on to somebody who can).