Mixing Livebearers In A Community Tank?

[aquagirl]

I have a ten gallon with 2 red phantom tetras and 2 cardinals, which I've had for a while. In this tank I also have four guppies. I'm planning on trading the guppys at my LFS for some platys or mollies or swordtails or maybe a few of each... like two swords, two platys and a balloon molly... or 4 platys and something else... I'm very open at this point so what are some suggestions? Also, I read somewhere that all livebearers are not compatible. (sp?) If this is true, what are some examples/do's and dont's?

 

[guppymad]

don't get mollies they will grow to big.

 

[clareriley]

Molly can get very big,. i would stick with platys,

 

[aquagirl]

Mmmm... anything else in addition to platys?

What about swordtails?

Or a trio of mollies? Would that work?

 

[Annastasia]

I'd stick with Platies. Swordies and Mollies get too big, and Mollies have special water requirements. Also, your schooling fish would be much happier with more of their own kind. Do you have a bigger tank, to upgrade them to and get more of their own kind? Or, if not, I'd pick one and bump the school up to 4 or so. It's still going to be a bit of a small tank for them though...

 

[aquagirl]

Annastasia!! I used to be around here a lot.. and then I quit for a while.. and came back mostly at the betta forum. You're always very helpful... and probably dont remember me.

Haha well uhm okay I will go with a group of 4 platys. Or could I get 5 and do two males& three females?

And as far as the schooling fish go, yup, I know they should be in larger numbers. I started with 6 cardinals and they all died off besides the current two.. but they seem to really enjoy eachothers' company... and I've had them in couples for about a year and they've been fine... And with the Red Phantoms my friend got them for me as a gift and they've been fine as well...

Thanks a bunch.

 

[Annastasia]

Nope, I remember you. As I was posting, it just clicked. I remember your first fry! Balloon Mollies, no?

I think a trio would be your best bet. That would just about fill your tank, and you have to remember, you'll have fry. Do you a place for those to go? The fish you have in their probably aren't going to take care of all your fry.

 

[aquagirl]

Haha! Well they were guppies. But then I had a balloon molly that had white stress spots miraculously have a few fry... which I told you about.

Uhm well. I adopted some fry. 5... which I have in a breeding trap... for now. I dont even know what they are... lol stupid me.. didnt ask. I know they're either guppys or platys though. I'm thinking I'll put them in one of a couple glass bowls I have and buy a heater for them, then do regular changes since filtration isnt an option (which you helped me with in the past.). Soon the fry will be moved to the bowl... leaving room for fry the platys produce... and then once the 5 grow out of the bowl I have an LFS I know personally that will take them. So yeahhh I have a plan.

A trio of platys? Mmmkay thanks I'll go with that.

Could I get a guarami as well... ? They are so pretty and I think one would finish out the whole tank... do I have enough room?

 

[bleechme]

IMO, the tank is too small to add an Gourmi. they do get pretty big for a ten gallon, depending on what type of Gourmi you want.