Mixing Livebearers?

[DragonLass]

Hi all
I'd love to get a few guppies for my community tank. Is it OK to mix them with my platies? If I got 2 males, would they harrass my female platies? If so, should I then get 1 male and 2 female guppies?
Also, if they *can* breed, and some fry happen to survive, will the mixed species fish live a normal life?
I wouldn't expect too many to survive though, I have a very hungry angelfish on constant fry patrol

 

[dwarfgourami]

Hi all
I'd love to get a few guppies for my community tank. Is it OK to mix them with my platies? If I got 2 males, would they harrass my female platies? If so, should I then get 1 male and 2 female guppies?
Also, if they *can* breed, and some fry happen to survive, will the mixed species fish live a normal life?
I wouldn't expect too many to survive though, I have a very hungry angelfish on constant fry patrol

Platies and guppies cannot interbreed as they are different genera. IME they are still close enough for social interaction and usually get along extremely well, in fact all the better because there is less sexual tension. I have 3 mixed guppy and platy tanks, all happy communities.
The risk with getting 2 guppy males is more that they would fight each other. I would go for either females on their own, or 1 male to 2-3 females. Or else at least 5 males (to spread any aggro).

 

[Ddraig Goch]

I always keep Platys and Guppies together, they get along fine.

Some male Guppies will try to breed with anything though so they may chase the Platys, the females and the males!!!

 

[DragonLass]

Thanks guys. Sounds like i'm on to a winner then. I think I will start with 1 male and 2 females, and see how it goes. Hopefully 2 females will be enough to amuse him, and he can leave my platy females alone. They already get attention enough from my male platy