Platies: Choice for both beginners and experts

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Platies are one of the favorite livebearers for both beginners and experts in aquarium fish keeping. They are colorful, easy to care for and low maintenance. Platies belong to the family of Poeciliidae and their scientific name is Xiphophorus maculatus (southern platy fish) and Xiphophorus variatus (variable or variatus platy).


Platy fish originally from Mexico and Central America. Platies can grow up to 2 to 3 inches. Average lifespan of platy fish is 3 to 4 years.

Platy Fish
Types of Platy Fish

Because of cross-breeding with different types of platies, new colors and patterns are constantly produced. Most famous types of platies are mickey mouse, sunburst, red wag, green lantern, blue wag, Dalmatian and bumblebee Platy fish.


Common colors in platies are red, white, blue, orange and yellow. Types of platy fish based on patterns are wagtail, variegated, twin bar, tuxedo and mickey mouse.


Platy Fish Tank


Because of their small size, platies can be placed in 10 to 20 gallons of tank. Since these are peaceful in nature you can place them in community tanks also. We recommend you place it in a live plant aquarium.


Usage of filter is recommended to prevent any floating waste, process nitrogen waste in the tank. Depending on your room temperature, an aquarium heater should be used to maintain a temperature of 21 to 27 degree C. 


You can keep platies with betta fish also, make sure the tank is large enough. Place sufficient plants or decorations, so betta fish can call his territory and stay peacefully.


Male Vs Female


In platies male and female are differentiated by anal fins and body size. Usually males are smaller in size compared to females. Anal fins in males are in stick like shape called gonopodium and females have fan shaped anal fin.


Food and Diet


Platies are omnivores similar to mollies and guppies. Platy fish will eat anything. To maintain a complete diet feed them with high quality flakes, pellets, freeze-dried foods and frozen foods. Along with this, boiled vegetables are also a good choice.


For adults feeding once or twice a day is preferred and for growing fish 2 to 3 times a day is recommended. Platies can survive up to two weeks without food.


Breeding


Platies are livebearer and easy to breed. These fishes breed readily when tank conditions are ideal. Female platies will give birth to 20 to 50 babies at a time. Platies will breed in community tanks also if you provide enough vegetation in the tank.


Platies will not take parental care of babies and will eat if they get a chance. So it is better to place babies in separate tanks. In the community tank, place live plants for babies to hide to avoid being eaten by other large fish.


Molly Vs Platy (Difference between Molly Fish and Platy Fish)


Both platy and molly fish are livebearers. These fishes are differentiated by body shape and position of mouth. Platy fish have bodies that are shorter and rounder, whereas molly fish bodies are longer and sleek in shape. Mollies mouth is faced upwards and platy fish mouth is front faced.











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