Platy tank mates

Good matches

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The safest picks for platies are bettas, guppies and mollies. Each match shares platies' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

Hardy, calm and bright. One of the safest community fish.

Temperature: 70–80°F
pH: 7–8.2
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum tank: 10 gal
With care: 25
Avoid: 11

How each group of fish does with platies. Click through below for the reason behind every verdict.

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Cherry shrimp Platies will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give cherry shrimp somewhere to hide.
Goldfish A grown goldfish may treat small platies as food, especially at night.
Pea puffer Pea puffers are aggressive, though platies are big enough to shrug most of it off.
Ghost shrimp Platies will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give ghost shrimp somewhere to hide.
Amano shrimp Platies will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give amano shrimp somewhere to hide.
Koi At 24 inches a koi can swallow a small platy. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast platies will take the food first, so target-feed them.
Kuhli loach Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Common pleco Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for platies.
Chinese algae eater Chinese algae eaters grow to 10 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for platies.
Killifish Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Neon tetra Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Kissing gourami A grown kissing gourami may treat small platies as food, especially at night.
Bala shark At 13 inches a bala shark can swallow a small platy. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Apistogramma Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Tinfoil barb A grown tinfoil barb may treat small platies as food, especially at night.
Clown loach Clown loaches grow to 8 inches and need 75 gallons, far more than a tank set up for platies.
Ember tetra Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Rummy nose tetra Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Zebra pleco They only share 79–80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
German blue ram They only share 80°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Severum Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Cardinal tetra Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Chili rasbora Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Silver dollar Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

Avoid

Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); platies need 70–80°F. No temperature suits both.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful platies.
Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches platies do.
Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches platies do.
Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches platies do.
African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive and will bully peaceful platies.
Jack Dempsey An adult jack dempsey eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches platies do.
White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); platies need 70–80°F. They overlap only at 70–72°F, the edge of both ranges.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches platies do.
Flowerhorn An adult flowerhorn eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2.5 inches platies do.
Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, platies need 70–80°F.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the platy care sheet.

Questions

What are the best tank mates for platies?

Bettas, Guppies, Mollies, Angelfish, Swordtails. They share platies' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with platies?

Axolotls, Convict cichlids, Oscars, Bichirs, Black ghost knives. Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); platies need 70–80°F. No temperature suits both.

How is compatibility checked?

Each pair is compared on temperature and pH overlap, adult size and mouth size, fin nipping, temperament and territory. The worst result decides the verdict.