In The Aquarium
Platys are easy to keep and well suited to a community aquarium. They prefer water with a 7.0–8.0 pH, a water hardness of 9.0–19.0 dGH, and a temperature range of 18 to 25°C (64–77°F).
In captivity, they reach maturity in three to four months, and breed readily, the females giving birth to about 20-40 young at a time.
The fish commonly sold in pet shops is not a pure strain of X. maculatus, but is a hybrid between X. hellerii and X. maculatus. In general, if the male has a sword-shaped tail, they are called swordtails. Otherwise, they are labeled platy. Color and fin shape vary wildly in the aquarium trade.
A common statement in the trade is that it is harder to stop them breeding than to make them do so, with "surprise" fry appearing in community tanks regularly.
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Fry
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Pregnant female
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Male platy with gonopodium
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Female "Twin Bar" or "Comet" Platy
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"Sunset" Platy
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Wagtail Platy
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Blue Platy
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'Hi-fin' Wagtail
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Red 'Salt and Pepper' platy
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Female Black Platy
Read more about this topic: Southern Platyfish
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