Choosing the right tank size for molly and platy fish

[roller]

Hey guys, I was wondering about stocking a 37 gallon tank. How many platies and mollies can I fit in there? Is it an ideal size for these fish?

[TankWarrior]

Hi Roll, I'd say 8-10 small fish is the max for a 37-gallon tank. Mollies are pretty finicky about water conditions, so you'll need to stay on top of water changes. I'm talking weekly, at least half the tank. Platies are hardier, but still, you don't want to push it. If I were you, I'd stick with six of one or the other. That way, you've got some wiggle room in case you miss a water change or something. Small tanks just aren't my thing, too much risk of things going sideways.

[roller]

Hi Roll, I'd say 8-10 small fish is the max for a 37-gallon tank. Mollies are pretty finicky about water conditions, so you'll need to stay on top of water changes. I'm talking weekly, at least half the tank. Platies are hardier, but still, you don't want to push it. If I were you, I'd stick with six of one or the other. That way, you've got some wiggle room in case you miss a water change or something. Small tanks just aren't my thing, too much risk of things going sideways.

My water conditions and tank management are all set, that's not the issue. I just need to know if platies and mollies can coexist in a 37 gallon tank, is it a suitable environment for both species?

[sidthy]

Platies would be fine in a 37-gallon tank. The smaller varieties of Mollies could work, but the larger ones, like the Sailfin types, are probably too big. I'm curious, is your tank 37 gallons US or UK?

[roller]

Platies would be fine in a 37-gallon tank. The smaller varieties of Mollies could work, but the larger ones, like the Sailfin types, are probably too big. I'm curious, is your tank 37 gallons US or UK?

37 US gallons, to clarify. I have gold panda mollies, and I'm not sure what you mean by smaller varieties - I'd be happy to send a photo of my molly if you'd like a reference. I also wondered if you thought I meant 37 liters.

[sSjey]

UK gallons are indeed larger than US gallons, so a 37-gallon tank in the UK would be equivalent to a 44.4-gallon tank in the US. This size difference could make all the difference in maintaining ideal water conditions for your fish.

[sidthy]

No, I didn't assume you meant liters. You mentioned gallons right from the start. The orange varieties of mollies are pretty small, so they should be fine.

[roller]

Platies would be fine in a 37-gallon tank. The smaller varieties of Mollies could work, but the larger ones, like the Sailfin types, are probably too big. I'm curious, is your tank 37 gallons US or UK?

It's not orange, it's actually yellow. It looks like this one.

[Emeraldsea]

In terms of size, they should be alright in a 37-gallon tank, as long as you don't overcrowd it.