Southern Platyfish - in The Aquarium

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.

• Fry

• Pregnant female

• Male platy with gonopodium

• Female "Twin Bar" or "Comet" Platy

• "Sunset" Platy

• Wagtail Platy

• Blue Platy

• 'Hi-fin' Wagtail

• Red 'Salt and Pepper' platy

• Female Black Platy