Platies: Choice for both beginners and experts
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. Si...