Added tropical fish to my tank - now which food do I use?

[Johnny5isAlive]

We had 4 temperate fish happily surviving on temperate food flakes. We've now added 3 tropical fishes and I'm continuing with the temperate flakes. Is this right? Or is there an alternate feed to suit them all?

[TreeSparrow]

Why are you mixing fish with differing environmental needs? Keeping one species at its own optimal temperature will compromise the health and well-being of the other species.

Not only that but, add you've clearly identified, they also have differing dietary needs.

[Johnny5isAlive]

I didn't realise they did have different environmental needs. The heater is set to 25 which the petshop advised. They said that they were fine together.

They seem to be fine on temperate flakes, so think i'll stick with this.

[VimFuego101]

What temperate fish did you have and what did you add? I think you need to prepare yourself for the cost of setting up two separate tanks.

[Johnny5isAlive]

Errrrm I really don't know what type of fish they are

So here is a photo. We've added 3 elder guppy fishes

All seem to be happy

[TreeSparrow]

Those are platies. They're tropical!

[Johnny5isAlive]

Popped to Pets at Home. They are definitely being sold as temperate and we were told they were fine in our 55l tank with the endler guppys. And they said the temperate flakes were fine for all

[Johnny5isAlive]

Do you think they need splitting up?

[TreeSparrow]

No, they don't need splitting up. You do need a heater though. Google "platy fish" and you'll find the recommended optimal temperature tends to fall into the tropical range. They'll have shortened lifespans kept at room temperature.

[Johnny5isAlive]

Yes. I'm not sure you've understood my thread. I've added tropical fish to the tank and heater is set to 25. I wanted advice to the type of food I needed - temperate or tropical

[TreeSparrow]

Tropical. But I'm pointing out that platies aren't temperate fish