A 5-gallon tank can house 2 female platies or 3 male platies.
However, this is only the short answer to your question. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into how to calculate the number of platies to have in a fish tank and answer some questions that could be on your mind.
How Do You Calculate How Many Platies in a 5-Gallon Tank?
Of course, there isn’t an exact mathematical formula to let you know how to calculate the number of platies in a fish tank. Yet, the rule we’re about to mention is based on observations made by fish owners over the course of years. So, here it is:
1 inch of fish = 1 gallon of water needed
Therefore, you must know how big your fish is, then calculate the right tank size based on it. Just remember that you won’t get accurate results if you’re measuring your fish before they’ve reached adulthood because they’ll grow bigger.
For that reason, we must put an adult platyfish’s size into consideration before making our tank size calculations. So, how did we get the aforementioned results of 2 females or 3 males?
Now, when it comes to the average platyfish male length, you should know that it’s around 1.5 inches. Therefore, 3 males will be 4.5 inches, which will require a 4.5-gallon water tank.
Of course, with platies, it’s always better to be generous in your calculations. And that’s how we ended up with 3, fully-grown male platies in a 5-gallon tank.
On the other hand, the average female platyfish is 2.5 inches in length, so a 5-gallon aquarium should fit 2 females only.
There’s always the option to put only 2 platies, one male and one female, in a 5-gallon fish tank since the sum of their sizes equals 4 inches. While some people might argue that having an extra 1.5-inch male is okay, we think that it might restrict the freedom of your 2 platies.
It’s your call to make, after all, to ensure that your fish are happy and comfortable in their tank.
By Marrabbio2 [CC BY-SA 3.0]Can Male and Female Platies Be the Same Size?
Yes. We’ve already pointed out that the sizes we’ve mentioned in the previous section are the average.
Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised if your males grow up to be as big as the females or even bigger. In this case, a 5-gallon tank might fit only 2 males if each one of them is 2.5 inches in length.
Is It Wrong to Have Fewer Platies Than the Required Number?
It’s hard to see how having too few platies in a 5-gallon tank might be a bad idea, right? That only means more room and extra freedom for the fish. Well, that’s not entirely correct.
The thing with platies is that they’re sociable fish. They like each other’s company, and you’ll often find them swimming in groups and interacting with each other.
Therefore, having too few fish in a tank might end up with your fish feeling lonely. In turn, that could lead to boredom, depression, or laziness. In the long run, this could affect the fish’s health and cause stunted growth or shorter lifespans.
Is It Wrong to Have More Platies Than the Required Number?
Yes. A crowded tank isn’t the best scenario for such lively fish. Having too many platies in a tank could lead to stress, a quick buildup of germs and bacteria, and an environment where diseases can spread more easily.
In addition to that, you must keep in mind that platies breed quite fast. So, as your fish breed, you’ll end up with an overcrowded tank that you’ll need to exchange for a bigger one that’ll fit everyone.
How Do I Deal With an Overcrowded 5-Gallon Tank?
We know that sometimes things can get out of hand. You might’ve put too many platies inside a 5-gallon fish tank, and now you don’t know how to control the overpopulation.
Well, there are several steps you can follow to restore the balance in your fish tank:
- Do your calculations and take any additional fish to the aquarist (it’s a good idea if you take back all the fish from the same sex to stop those you’ve left from breeding)
- If needed, buy a new tank that the rest of your fish will fit in
- If you want your platies to breed, split your current platies into the two tanks and bring new fish of the opposite sex to both tanks
- Always make sure the right number of platies exists in your tanks not to face the same problem over and over
By Marrabbio2 [CC BY-SA 3.0]Can I Put My Platies in a 1-Gallon Tank?
Unfortunately, a 1-gallon tank isn’t good enough, even if you put a single male or female in it. The reason behind this is that this space will be too tight for a platy to live in comfortably. It’ll simply prevent it from swimming freely and having a healthy lifestyle.
Plus, even if 1-gallon were enough for one fish to stay in, your platy will soon become lonely and require companionship. Therefore, the minimum size of a platyfish tank is around 3 gallons, and you should only use it to house 2 males.
Have Another Tank Size You’re Looking for?
How Many Platies in a 10-Gallon Tank?
How Many Platies in a 20-Gallon Tank?
How Many Platies in a 29- Gallon Tank?
How Many Platies in a 55 -Gallon Tank?
To Wrap It Up
“How many platies in a 5-gallon tank?” You ask on your way to the aquarium supply store.
Surely, after you’ve read our article, you now know that a 5-gallon tank can be suitable for 3 males or 2 females.
It might also be good enough to contain a male and a female, although you may need to shop for a bigger one in the future. That’s because your platies will breed and the offspring will require extra space.
Now that you have all the information you need, it’s time for some fish tank shopping!