Tank mates for variatus platies

Good Compatible tank mates (63)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

• 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+

  Variatus platy will pick off baby cherry shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• Common goldfish

  30 cm (11.8 in) · 75+ 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+

  Variatus 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+

• Celestial pearl danio

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 8+

• 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+

• Ghost shrimp

  4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 10+ gal · groups of 3+

  Variatus platy will pick off baby ghost shrimp, so the colony grows slowly. Dense plants help.

• 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+

• Julii corydoras

  5.5 cm (2.2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Malaysian trumpet snail

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 10+ gal

• Mystery snail

  5 cm (2 in) · 10+ gal

• Otocinclus

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Peppered corydoras

  6.5 cm (2.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Platy

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 3+

• 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+

• Siamese algae eater

  15 cm (5.9 in) · 55+ gal

• White cloud mountain minnow

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 6+

• Black phantom tetra

  4 cm (1.6 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Bloodfin tetra

  5 cm (2 in) · 20+ gal · groups of 6+

• Bumblebee catfish

  7.5 cm (3 in) · 20+ gal

• Clown killifish

  3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 10+ 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+

• Gardneri killifish

  6 cm (2.4 in) · 10+ gal

• Giant danio

  10 cm (3.9 in) · 55+ 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

• Kubotai rasbora

  2 cm (0.8 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 10+

• 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+

• Rosy loach

  2.5 cm (1 in) · 15+ gal · groups of 8+

• 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+

• Swordtail

  12 cm (4.7 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 4+

• Thai micro crab

  1 cm (0.4 in) · 5+ gal · groups of 5+

• Turquoise rainbowfish

  11 cm (4.3 in) · 29+ gal · groups of 6+

• 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+

Caution Possible, with care (66)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

• Angelfish · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Angelfish is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller variatus platies.
• Betta fish · 5+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Common pleco · 150+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • 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 variatus platies.
• Bala shark · 230+ gal
  • Bala shark may eat variatus platies, especially young or small ones.
• Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Blood parrot cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller variatus platies.
  • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase variatus platies, which use the same area.
• Cardinal tetra · 15+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Cherry barb · 15+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Clown loach · 180+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Clown loach grows much larger than variatus platies and may swallow them as it grows.
• Dwarf neon rainbowfish · 20+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Electric blue acara · 40+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Electric blue acara may eat variatus platies, especially young or small ones.
  • Electric blue acara is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller variatus platies.
• Ember tetra · 10+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Firemouth cichlid · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Firemouth cichlid is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller variatus platies.
• Glowlight tetra · 15+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Honey gourami · 10+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Kribensis · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Kuhli loach · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Molly · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Pictus catfish · 75+ gal
  • Pictus catfish may eat variatus platies, especially young or small ones.
• Rainbow shark · 75+ gal
  • Rainbow shark is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller variatus platies.
• Rummy-nose tetra · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Silver dollar · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Sterbai corydoras · 20+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• X-ray tetra · 15+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Yoyo loach · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • 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 25–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Black neon tetra · 20+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Bleeding heart tetra · 29+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Bolivian ram · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Buenos Aires tetra · 29+ gal
  • Buenos Aires tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like variatus platies.
• Clown pleco · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Cockatoo cichlid · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Congo tetra · 40+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Crystal red shrimp · 10+ gal
  • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 6–6.8).
• Diamond tetra · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Dwarf chain loach · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Emperor tetra · 20+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Endler's livebearer · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Forktail blue-eye · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Glass catfish · 29+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Head and tail light tetra · 20+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Kissing gourami · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Kissing gourami is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller variatus platies.
• Lambchop rasbora · 15+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Lemon tetra · 20+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Marbled hatchetfish · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Red rainbowfish · 40+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Ropefish · 75+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Ropefish may eat variatus platies, especially young or small ones.
• Rosy tetra · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Serpae tetra · 20+ gal
  • Serpae tetra nips fins and can stress slow, peaceful fish like variatus platies.
• Severum · 55+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Severum may eat variatus platies, especially young or small ones.
  • Severum is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller variatus platies.
  • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase variatus platies, which use the same area.
• Sparkling gourami · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Upside-down catfish · 29+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Zebra loach · 29+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 5–6.5).
• Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
  • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 24–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • 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 25–25°C).
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Silvertip tetra · 20+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
• Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
  • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.

Avoid Bad tank mates (20)

• Oscar: Oscar can eat variatus platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
• Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Variatus platy 18–25°C (64–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
• Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful variatus platies.
• Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful variatus platies.
• Discus: They need different temperatures: Variatus platy 18–25°C (64–77°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. Variatus platies don't belong in that setup.
• German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Variatus platy 18–25°C (64–77°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
• Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey can eat variatus platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful variatus platies.
• Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful variatus 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. Variatus platies don't belong in that setup.
• Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful variatus 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. Variatus platies don't belong in that setup.
• Senegal bichir: Senegal bichir can eat variatus platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
• Black ghost knifefish: Black ghost knifefish can eat variatus 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 variatus 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. Variatus platies don't belong in that setup.
• Frontosa: Frontosa can eat variatus 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. Variatus platies don't belong in that setup.
• Green terror: Green terror can eat variatus platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown. Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful variatus platies.
• Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful variatus 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. Variatus platies don't belong in that setup.
• Tinfoil barb: Tinfoil barb can eat variatus platies: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
• Zebra pleco: They need different temperatures: Variatus platy 18–25°C (64–77°F), zebra pleco 26–30°C (79–86°F).