Information about platys how to keep and breed platy. Many females platys are gray or tan, which you can see on this female, but most of our female platys also have some color like the metallic scales on this female. As an example, we can mention disk platy fish a specially bred fish with curved spine due to which it has a specific body shape. Platys are livebearers and extremely easy to breed. Platies, or platy in singular, are a group of aquariumfriendly fish from the scientific genus xiphophorus. The red wagtail platy is a pleasant and peaceful freshwater fish thats both hardy and active. The swordtail platy, uncommon in the aquarium hobby, is the one species that is less tolerant of the varying conditions of a home aquarium. It is easy to care for and to breed, making it an excellent beginner fish. The platy originates in central america and is a very popular freswhater tropical fish. Even though a quick glance will tell you that each individual colored fish are not similar but generally all of them are still categorized under the common group with the same scientific classification xiphophorus maculatus. They can be a very active tropical fish if given good water conditions. This little livebearer can be found in several different color varieties, developed through decades of selective breeding.
Platies make a perfect addition to the aquarium for the novice to expert alike. One thing about them is that if you pair a male and a female together, you will probably get fry. A young female blue platy, whose stomach is bulging with babies. Baby platy fish do not require different food from adults. Platy fish belong to xiphophorus genus and along with mollies, guppies and swordfish are a member of the poeciliidae family. Small, hardy, active, peaceful and pretty, the platy is one of the most recommendable fish for any beginner.
Platy description, alimentation, reproduction, conseils. Like any livebearing fish, platies are easy to breed in an aquarium. Platies are hardy and colorful fish that make a wonderful addition to the passive community aquarium. Instead, females lay batches of unfertilized eggs, which males will fertilize at a later date.
For the purposes of this manual, the classification of fishes will be considered. The common platy xiphophorus maculatus, also known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the moonfish, southern platyfish, or mickey mouse platy is native to north and central america, but is also found in belize and central mexico platys share similar habitats with, and are closely related to green swordtails, which they will readily interbreed with when given the opportunity. Few interesting facts about platy breeding that i want to add further. Sexual dimorphism is slight, the males caudal fin being more pointed. Platys are social fish who live in shoals and do not swim in group with other fishes.
Platys are livebearers, meaning the female gives birth to fully formed, free swimming baby fish. Also known as the moonfish or the southern platyfish, the popular platy comes in many color and fin variations, the most common being a solid, and brilliant red. The common platy xiphophorus, also known as the southern platyfish or mickey mouse platy is a small, popular livebearing fish. Breeding and reproduction of fish merck veterinary manual. Young female platy at 4 months old can only give birth to about 3 5 fish fry from their small belly. This manual on the commercial production of the swordtail, xiphophorus helleri, is the latest in the series. If the parents are well fed they are less likely to cannibalize the young. Les parents ne prennent pas soin des petits une fois mis au monde, au contraire. Plants are also good so that the females have plenty of hiding spaces. A manual for commercial production of the swordtail. As with any livebearing fish, it is best to have at least 23 females per each male because male livebearers often harass the females. Some platy owners like to crush or grind pelleted or flaked.
Platy sex change hello, we have a ten gallon freshwater tank with over 30 fish, ranging in age of 5 months 5 days, black mollies and sunset platys, and only one of our fish is store bought, due to reproduction and dying out. I have a zillion platys and would like to know what fish i. Optimal temperatures for reproduction in all livebearers are reported to be. It is native to north america and central america and can be found from central mexico to belize. Southern platyfish xiphophorus maculatus species profile. But like many other live bearers, it is now listed as an invasive species in several countries, and is still. They add plenty of color to tanks, are peaceful, relatively cheap and very easy to maintain. A young male blue spotted platy these platys seem to have a white background with lots of black specs and blue spots. Selective breeding has facilitated the emergence of other color variations as well including blue, green, brown and even black. Its also small, pretty, and a great fish for hobbyists of any level. Commercial production of the swordtail from the above calculation, 10 ml of concentrated formalin must be added to the 100l 26gal container to obtain a final concentration of 100 ppm. The southern platyfish grows to a maximum overall length of 2.
I want one or two bright colored fish to round off my peaceful 29g community, but i dont want to deal with fry. You can feed them the same pellets or flakes that you feed the adults, as well as freezedried bloodworms and tubifex, and brine shrimp. Because of that, both species can actually interbreed with each other if placed in the same aquarium fish tank. It has been bred in many attractive colour varieties, and, like the related swordtail xiphophorus helleri with which it has been crossed, has been used in a. It is very easy to take care of and well suited for the freshwater fish beginner. The platy is an easycare fish perfect for beginning aquarists.
I think im going to regime the two females that have been doing the picking. One goldfish desires 20 gallons on my own on an identical time as you ought to probable positioned 15 platys or guppies in 20 gallons. The platy is a popular beginner fish, since it is relatively sturdy, easy to care for and also easy to spawn in captivity. Some platy owners elect to have maletofemale ratio of 1 to 2. The information presented in these manuals should help farmers to overcome some of the difficulties encountered with the commercial production of ornamental fish in hawaii. This group of fish are omnivores, however a vegetable based diet is often preferred. Xiphophorus maculatus us fish and wildlife service.
I have a zillion platys and would like to know what fish i could put in there with them, that are very cheap, easy to care for and is no danger to the platys that are not fry. Breeding, tank requirements, fancy varieties the guppy is one of the most wellknown and popular aquarium fish for both beginners and seasoned aquarists alike. Red wagtail platy fish species profile the spruce pets. A study on larvivoricity of platy xiphophorus maculatus was carried out for 24 h.
Would different types of platy be ok together without breeding. My friend has an established 20 gallon with only 2 platys, so she said that she would take them. This limits risk of one female becoming stressed by constant harassment from the male. Common platy xiphophorus maculatus tropical fish keeping. In terms of platy fish colors, red, brick red, velvet red, blood red, yellow, gold, sunset, marigold, sunburst and their inbetween shades are the most common platy fish color variations. The platy xiphophorus maculatus grows to a maximum overall length of 7. Pdf evaluation of efficacy of platy xiphophorus maculatus as. Only one has survived, and she is really small 1cm. Platy are a vary easy type of fish to take care of and are a great beginner fish. Could i get just one single platy, or do they need to be kept in groups. A popular and frequently exported fish xiphophorus maculatus, also known as platy fish family poecilidae, is susceptible to a number of parasite species, including digenetic trematodes in their metacercarial stage, which use the fish as their second intermediate host thilakaratne et al. Species of freshwater livebearers include mollies, platys, swordtails, and guppies from the americas and the 20 or so halfbeak species from asia.
Welcome to, a modern guide for understanding and caring for platies. Closely related to swordtails caudal sword is identifying difference, platies are a freshwater species adapted to subtropical freshwater conditions. The size of variatus platy fish is slightly larger than the southern platy fish. Types of fish reproduction in an aquarium or pond, successful breeding largely depends on nutrition and environmental conditions that are sometimes very specific. Platys and guppies are tropical fish, so which you maintain them in a heated tank with a heater. Investigations of the reproductive activities of wild populations of swordtails in australia have. Platy should be kept in schools in aquariums decorated with dense vegatation and open areas to swim in. Under commercial tropical fish breeding practices, there are many examples.
Platies comes in many different color varieties including the salt and pepper, the red wag tail and the. See more ideas about platy fish, fish and freshwater aquarium fish. Often the distributions of the damselflies and introduced fishes were found to be mutually exclusive, probably resulting from predation by the fish on the insects englund 1999. The diet for your fish should match this, including flake, frozen, spirulina and freeze dried foods. Platy fish care platies size, lifespan, tank mates, breeding. There are different variants or types of platy fish each characterized by its own unique color combination. Platy is a tropical freshwater fish that belongs to the same group or family of fish peociliidae similar to the swordtail.
Platy fish for sale click here for information and advice about how to keep and care for platy fish, including the proper aquarium, food, good tank mates, lifespan, and maximum size for platys. Xiphophorus come from the greek work xiphos meaning sword and pherein meaning carry platy fish is a common name that refers to three species. You can find platies in several different colors which make for an eyecatching tank. Ruth francisfloyd, dvm, ms, daczm, department of large animal clinical sciences, college of veterinary medicine, university of florida. Compatibility platys are one of the best community tank. There are several dozens of the fish color variations, it is just impossible to describe them all. This is why having an aquarium full of platys would be a smart idea because it would help them a lot develop their dynamism. Like the southern platy, variatus platy also breeds with close relatives in its genus and has produced many hybrids in natural waters as well as aquariums. Platy xiphophorus maculatus platy freshwater fish care. Guppies, platys and mollies, bullhead city, arizona. As with many fish but especially livebearers, the platy only has 2 things in mind. The platy comes from central america from mexico to guatemala. The anal fin of the male fish has evolved into a gonopodium, a stickshaped organ used for reproduction.
Milton and arthington 1983 noted that reproduction was influenced by. This female has the dark wag fins on a golden body with a red tint, just like a sunset. Some platy variations include wagtail, blue, simpson tuxedo, and simpson coral platy to name a few. Platy, species xiphophorus maculatus, popular tropical aquarium fish of the livebearer family, poeciliidae order atheriniformes. Feed the fish small amounts several times a day, about as much food as they can eat in three minutes. The platy is a compact fish, about 5 cm 2 inches long and extremely variable in colour. We sell guppies, platys and mollies in bullhead city, az. It is interesting to watch the female grow fatter and then one day platy fry can be found swimming in the tank. Home freshwater fish the complete guppy care guide 2020.
A young female sunset wag platy similar pattern to the red wag. The platy fish is an active swimmer, but peaceful, making it suitable for community tanks. Platy exists in different colors from orange to red while some has a mix of yellow shades with some black speckles. Platy care sheet 2012 aquarium fish, marine, freshwater fish. I put some tubifex worms in the tank to keep the platys occupied.
Once the fish are added to the tank give them a few hours to explore. The fish should be fed what they can eat in a few minutes 1 to 2 times a day. Southern platys, and other introduced poeciliids, have been implicated in the decline of native damselflies on oahu, hawaii. Barbs and tetras are known for swimming together, but even though platys do not practice it, they are more active when they are together. Platys are mildmannered fish that can be housed with a wide range of other peaceful community fishes. Platys are livebearers, meaning the female gives birth to fully formed, free swimming baby fish, about 30 days after fertilization.