From Aqua Guide, the free encyclopedia
Platy / Moonfish
Xiphophorus maculatus
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C
- pH
- 7 – 8.2
- Min. tank size
- 60 L
- Lifespan
- 4 years
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- easy
| Scientific classification | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name: | Xiphophorus maculatus |
| Family: | Poeciliidae |
| Origin: | Central America |
| Care Characteristics | |
| Care Level: | easy |
| Diet: | omnivore |
| Max Size: | 6.00 cm |
| Water Type: | freshwater |
| Temp Group: | tropical |
| Temperament: | peaceful |
| Min Group: | 3+ together |
| Varieties: | Dozens of strains, named by pattern rather than by species, and most produced by crossbreeding with the green swordtail (X. hellerii) or the variatus platy (X. variatus). Pattern strains include the mickey mouse, named for the three-spot mark at the tail base; the wagtail, with black fins against a coloured body; the tuxedo, with a dark flank block; the sunset, grading from yellow to red; and the twin bar, rainbow, salt and pepper and calico forms. Colour strains run through red, orange, yellow, blue, green, gold, black and white in almost every combination. Fin strains exist too — hi-fin or topsail platies carry an enlarged dorsal, and there are longer-finned forms. Two practical notes. Many commercial platies suffer reduced hardiness from generations of inbreeding, and a fish from a local breeder or a specialist is usually a tougher animal than one from a mass-market tank. And the variatus platy is a genuinely different species — slightly larger, more elongated, and more tolerant of cool water, often sold alongside these without distinction. |
| Lifespan: | 4 years |
Quick Tips
- Bioload:Low
- Min Tank:60 L
- Substrate:Gravel or sand; planted with open swimming space
- Plant Safe:Completely safe
- Filtration:Low to moderate
Platy / Moonfish (Xiphophorus maculatus) is a species of fish in the family Poeciliidae. It is native to Central America. The platy is the fish to buy if you want colour, activity and no drama. It is peaceful, unfussy, breeds without being asked, and among the least demanding fish sold. Its native range runs from Veracruz in Mexico down to northern Belize, in hard, mineral-rich waters — which is the one requirement people miss. It reaches about 5 cm standard length, around 6 cm overall, with females larger than males. One thing worth knowing before you start reading strain names: the fish in shops is generally not pure Xiphophorus maculatus. It is a hybrid, crossed with the green swordtail and often with the variatus platy as well, bred for colour over generations. That is not a criticism — it is simply what a platy is now, and it explains why the varieties are endless and why the fish do not always breed true.
Compatibility
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Keep in
- Groups of 3+
- Swims
- middle
- Fin nipper
- No
- Delicate fins
- No
Species similar to Platy / Moonfish
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