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Fishes Catalogue - Resplendent Platies (Family: Poeciliidae)

Southern Platy Xiphophorus maculatus

• pH 7.0 - 8.0
• GH 5º - 15ºdH
• Temp 71º - 80ºF (22º - 27ºC)

There are two Platy species that are frequently kept in the hobby, the Southern Platy (Southern Platyfish), Xiphophorus maculatus, and the Variable Platy (Variegated Platy), Xiphophorus variatus. Both of these species have been widely hybridised together and with the Green Swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri. The extreme variability of these fishes, combined with their vivid and dazzling colours makes them worthy of respect from fishkeepers the World over, beginner and specialist alike. Quite often Platies are the first fish that aspiring fishkeepers introduce into their new aquarium.

In the wild the natural habitat of the Southern Platy extends from the far North of Mexico, down the Gulf as far as Belize, Guatemala and the Northern waters of Honduras. They can be found in various freshwater environments that combine vegetation with little or no water movement. There are nine known species of platy, these are not the impressively coloured captive bred specimens that we see in our aquariums, Platies in the wild tend to be less colourful. There are a few colour variations, like olive-green body with the odd splash of colour, some black Platies, and others that are grey with highlights of blue, they also tend to be smaller than our cultivated fishes.

We now have the basic knowledge, drawn from their natural habitat, to provide captive bred Platies with the type of conditions that suite them best, i.e. a well planted aquarium with little water movement and sufficient room for swimming. Filtration needs to be effective while at the same time controlling its turbulence.

Breeders have produced many colour varieties, and a good size specimen may reach 3 inches (7.5cms.) but 2-2½ inches (5-6.3cms.) is more common, some to watch out for are:

• Red Platy: A deep, scarlet red fish with good colour in the fins.
• Red Wagtail Platy [View] A red platy with the caudal and dorsal fins delicately coloured black.
• Black Platy [View] This fish has a good even black colour over the body, with clear finnage. Often it has a yellow or orange throat. Not an easy one to keep or breed, being more delicate than the other colour varieties.
• Blue Platy: The basic body colour tends to be green, although the scales reflect a metallic blue when seen under lighting.
• Sunset Platy [View]
• Golden Platy
• Salt-and-pepper Platy
• Black Wagtail Platy
• Bleeding Heart Platy
• Albino Platy, and many, many more

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Variable Platy Xiphophorus variatus

• pH 7.0 - 8.0
• GH 5º - 15ºdH
• Temp 68º - 78ºF (20º - 26ºC)

The Variable Platy (Variegated Platy), Xiphophorus variatus, can often be found in mountain habitats, close to the banks of cooler flowing rivers and streams, where vegetation covers the waters edge. These water channels eventually flow out into the Atlantic tributaries between Tamaulipas and Veracruz, Mexico. It's fair to assume then that aquarium specimens be kept at a cooler temperature than say, X. maculatus. Also current flow from filters shouldn't present a problem for these species, and you can use slightly less planting. It's also logical to assume that if these species come from faster flowing waters that partial water changes should be carried out more frequently.

As their name may suggest, variable Platies can be found in many colour guises in the wild. However, as with the Southern platy, X. maculatus, they are lacking the creative touch of mans intervention, and are thus, not quite as colourful as the cultivated variety.

Many Platies have a small, although characteristic, swordtail, Swordtail or Sword platy, Xiphophorus xiphidium (Rio Nautla, Rio Purificacion, Rio Soto la Marina). Nonetheless, they are still considered to be a platy, rather than a swordtail. The platy's detachment from the swordtails is too complex for this article to explain, it is based on some microscopic characteristics. However, one distinguishing feature is the "sword" itself, in swordtails the term refers to the males "gonopodium", and in the case of the platy the "sword" term is referring to the extension of the lower caudal fin.

There was a time when the platy species were known as "Platypoecilus" and thought of as a separate genus to Xiphophorus. However, the discovery of the Catemaco platy, Xiphophorus milleri, which is endemic to Lake Catemaco, Veracruz, Mexico, found that it shared characteristics with the Xiphophorus species, which had previously been used to separate the two genera, thus they were united, declaring all species in question Xiphophorus. Hobbyists though have continued to use the name "platy" and I guess always will and there's nothing wrong with that in my view.

In general males grow to about 2 inches (5cms), the females being slightly larger. They breed fairly easily, and many beautiful colour strains have been developed from wild stock, varieties such as:

• Red-tailed black-spotted variatus: Red tail with deep black caudal peduncle the body speckled with black spots
• Black Variatus: Black body with yellow-gold finnage.
• Sunset variatus: Much the colour of a Goldfish to look at.
• Marigold Variatus: Much deeper yellow than Sunset, more like orange.
• Blue Variatus: All pale blue body with yellow dorsal and caudal fin
  and many others.

Platies are among the most popular fish in the hobby, they will brighten up any aquarium, they are no trouble to their tank mates, and keepers, beginners and specialist alike, will have Platies in their aquariums for a long yet!

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Livebearing Fishes Catalogue