What to do with male Platies?

[babsrocks]

OK, here's the situation. I had 6 female platies and one male. I then had a ton of fry. They got too big for the net breeder, so I released them into the tank. The problem is most of the fry are male and they are picking on the females. My LFS says they will take some of the fry, but he wants them to be bigger. So can I move all but one males onto my 10 gal. until they are ready to go to the LFS? Will males do ok together if there is no female in the tank? Right now I have about 15 fry, along with my 7 adult platies, a kisser and another gourami in my 55 gal. And I have 4 female and 1 male platies in my 10. The ones in the 10 were in quarentine after I bought them, but are now OK to go in the big tank.
So what I want to do is move the 4 quarentine females into the 55 and move the male fry (about 10) into the 10 gal until they can go to the LFS. Would that be OK?

Thanks in advance.

 

[littleme1969]

I can't see any problem there.. they will do far better as just a male group anyhow. As long as water conditions are the same as in the big tank they should be fine. If you're worried then maybe add a little aquarium salt to the 10g water. It will help reduce the stress of the changeover and also gaurd against any health probs.

 

[David]

Yes but be warned, platies and other livebearers like swordtails have been known to randomly change sex to meet their needs. It's happened to me so I'd watch out if I were you. (My male used to be a female).

 

[Angry_Platy]

Young females can change into males but males cannt change into females...once the characteristic male anal fin is there it cannot unfold...

 

[David]

Yes chooklet is right, it only works one way Poor females. Anyway that's why although it's advisable to have 2-3 females per male, exceed that and you may find yourself with more males than you bargained for.

 

[babsrocks]

OK good, so the males should be OK in the bachelor pad for a few weeks. I tested the water in both tanks and the pH in the 10 gal is a bit lower than the 55 gal. I've got a 6.5 and a 7, should I adjust before I start switching fish around?

 

[David]

Don't tamper with your pH, it'll just cause unnecessary stress. Platies can handle a wide range of pH, it's the pH fluctuations that get 'em.