Tank mates for platies
We checked platies against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.
Good tank mates for platies include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. Avoid oscar, chinese algae eater and convict cichlid: oscar can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Platies: 20–26°C (68–79°F), pH 7–8, adult size 6 cm (2.4 in), minimum tank 15 gallons (57 L). Full platy care guide.
Good Compatible tank mates (107)
Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.
Betta fish
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 5+ gal
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 20+ gal
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 10+
Platy will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Common pleco
40 cm (15.7 in) · 150+ gal
Dwarf gourami
7.5 cm (3 in) · 15+ gal
Fancy goldfish
15 cm (5.9 in) · 20+ gal
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
African dwarf frog
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Amano shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Platy will pick off baby amano shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 5+ gal
Black skirt tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Cardinal tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Celestial pearl danio
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Cherry barb
5 cm (2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Chili rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Denison barb
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 6+
Dojo loach
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 3+
Dwarf neon rainbowfish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Ember tetra
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+
Ghost shrimp
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Platy will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Glowlight tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Harlequin rasbora
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Hillstream loach
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 3+
Honey gourami
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Julii corydoras
5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kribensis
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal
Kuhli loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Malaysian trumpet snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal
Molly
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Mystery snail
5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal
Otocinclus
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl gourami
11.5 cm (4.5 in) · 29+ gal
Peppered corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Pygmy corydoras
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 10+
Ramshorn snail
2 cm (0.8 in) · 5+ gal
Red-tail shark
12 cm (4.7 in) · 75+ gal
Rosy barb
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Rummy-nose tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 10+
Siamese algae eater
15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal
Silver dollar
15 cm (5.9 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
Sterbai corydoras
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Three spot gourami
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal
X-ray tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+
Yoyo loach
13 cm (5.1 in) · 75+ gal · groups of 5+
African butterfly fish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal
Bamboo shrimp
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Platy will pick off baby bamboo shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Black neon tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Black phantom tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bleeding heart tetra
6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 8+
Bloodfin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Bolivian ram
8 cm (3.1 in) · 29+ gal
Bumblebee catfish
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
Clown killifish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Clown pleco
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Cockatoo cichlid
7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal
Congo tetra
8 cm (3.1 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Diamond tetra
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf chain loach
6 cm (2.4 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Dwarf orange crayfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 10+ gal
Emerald green corydoras
8 cm (3.1 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Emperor tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Endler's livebearer
3 cm (1.2 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+
Forktail blue-eye
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Gardneri killifish
6 cm (2.4 in) · 10+ gal
Giant danio
10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Glass catfish
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Gold barb
7 cm (2.8 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Golden wonder killifish
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Head and tail light tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Kubotai rasbora
2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+
Lambchop rasbora
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Lemon tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Marbled hatchetfish
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Odessa barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Panda garra
8.5 cm (3.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 3+
Paradise fish
8 cm (3.1 in) · 20+ gal
Peacock gudgeon
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 2+
Penguin tetra
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Red rainbowfish
12 cm (4.7 in) · 40+ gal · groups of 6+
Rosy loach
2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Rosy tetra
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Rubber lip pleco
14 cm (5.5 in) · 29+ gal
Scarlet badis
2 cm (0.8 in) · 10+ gal
Scissortail rasbora
12 cm (4.7 in) · 55+ gal · groups of 6+
Sparkling gourami
3.8 cm (1.5 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 2+
Swordtail
12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Thai micro crab
1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+
Threadfin rainbowfish
4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Turquoise rainbowfish
11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+
Upside-down catfish
9.5 cm (3.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+
Vampire shrimp
10 cm (3.9 in) · 20+ gal
Platy will pick off baby vampire shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.
Zebra loach
9 cm (3.5 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 5+
Black ruby barb
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Checkerboard barb
5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Flame tetra
3 cm (1.2 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+
Glowlight danio
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Keyhole cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 2+
Least killifish
2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 6+
Pearl danio
6 cm (2.4 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+
Silvertip tetra
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 8+
Thick-lipped gourami
9 cm (3.5 in) · 20+ gal
Variatus platy
6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+
Caution Possible, with care (24)
These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.
- Angelfish · 29+ gal
- Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller platies.
- Common goldfish · 75+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Tiger barb · 29+ gal
- Tiger barb nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like platies.
- Bala shark · 230+ gal
- Bala shark may eat platies, especially young or small ones.
- Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
- Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller platies.
- Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase platies, which use the same area.
- Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Clown loach · 180+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Clown loach grows much larger than platies and may swallow them as it grows.
- Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
- Electric blue acara may eat platies, especially young or small ones.
- Electric blue acara is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller platies.
- Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
- Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller platies.
- Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
- Pictus catfish may eat platies, especially young or small ones.
- Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
- Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller platies.
- White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
- One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
- Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
- Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like platies.
- Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 6–6.8).
- Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
- Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller platies.
- Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
- Ropefish · 75+ gal
- Ropefish may eat platies, especially young or small ones.
- Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
- Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like platies.
- Severum · 55+ gal
- Severum may eat platies, especially young or small ones.
- Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller platies.
- Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase platies, which use the same area.
- Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
- Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 5–6.5).
- Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
- Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 5–6.5).
- Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
- Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
Avoid Bad tank mates (18)
- Oscar: Oscar can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful platies.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful platies.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Platy 20–26°C (68–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Platies don't belong in that setup.
- German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Platy 20–26°C (68–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
- Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful platies.
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful platies. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
- Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Platies don't belong in that setup.
- Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful platies. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Platies don't belong in that setup.
- Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful platies. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Platies don't belong in that setup.
- Frontosa: Frontosa can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Platies don't belong in that setup.
- Green terror: Green terror can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful platies.
- Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful platies.
- Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Platies don't belong in that setup.
- Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
Frequently asked questions
What fish can live with platies?
Good tank mates for platies include betta fish, cherry shrimp, nerite snail, guppy, dwarf gourami and neon tetra. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat platies.
Can platies live with angelfish?
Sometimes, with care. Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller platies.
Can platies live with bettas?
Yes. They share similar water needs (24–26°C (75–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can platies live with bristlenose plecos?
Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Can platies live with bronze corydoras?
Yes. They share similar water needs (21–26°C (70–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.
Popular questions
How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.