Platy

Xiphophorus maculatus

Chunky, colourful and always curious, platies are the golden retrievers of community tanks.

A peaceful freshwater fish that grows to 5.5 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 18–27 °C, pH 7.0–8.2 and an aquarium of at least 40 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

18–27 °C (64–81 °F)

pH

7.0–8.2

Adult size

5.5 cm (2.2 in)

Aquarium

40 L or bigger (11 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Atlantic slope of Mexico & Central America

Good to know

• Livebearer. Gives birth to live fry – easy to breed.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Amano Shrimp, Bristlenose Pleco, Corydoras, Dwarf Gourami, Ghost Shrimp, Honey Gourami, Marbled Hatchetfish, Mystery Snail, Neocaridina Shrimp, Nerite Snail.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Axolotl, Flowerhorn, Frontosa, Jack Dempsey, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Eats the newborn fry of: Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish, Ember Tetra, Endler's Livebearer and 14 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Ghost Knifefish, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Clown Loach, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Congo Tetra, Discus, Dwarf Gourami, Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish and 15 more.

Colours and breeding

• Red common
• Sunset common
• Mickey Mouse common
• Blue Coral uncommon

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.6 cm long and take after one of the parents.

Some pairs give a colour neither parent has:

• Red × Mickey Mouse can give Sunset

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.