Page 164 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

162 FRESHWATER FISH DIRECTORY

Xiphophorus maculatus
Platy The Platy is suitable for both a community
aquarium and a single-species setup. A tank for
ORIGINS Central America, occurring in Veracruz state in these fish should incorporate a clear area at the
Mexico and southward to Belize and Guatemala. front for swimming, with some specimen plants,
SIZE 3 in (7.5 cm). and denser planting around the back and sides.
DIET Prepared foods and small live foods. It is important to include plants such as Java
WATER Temperature 64–77°F (18–25°C); hard Moss (Vesicularia dubyana) if you hope to breed
(100–150 mg/l) and alkaline (pH 7.5). these livebearers successfully. Some of the young
TEMPERAMENT Peaceful and social. fish will survive long enough in this dense
vegetation to grow to a size at which they will no
The Platy has a broad body and naturally rounded longer be seen as a meal by other fish in the tank.
fins. Spotted patterning on the caudal peduncle The Platy benefits from being kept at a slightly Coffee and Ink Platy The spotted patterning on this
and dorsal fin is common in the wild, and it has higher temperature than its variegated relative. variant is larger than on the so-called Salt and Pepper
been maintained in a number of domestic strains. Platy, often resulting in a rather blotchy appearance.
The caudal peduncle spot is more like a crescent The caudal peduncle is largely black.
moon in some cases, which explains why the Platy Rounded
is occasionally called the Moonfish. The wild form caudal fin Black stripes
on dorsal fin
is usually olive-brown, although some individuals
display reddish coloration—a feature that is very
evident in domestic strains. These strains have
been created both by selective breeding and by
hybridization with other Xiphophorus species,
especially the Variegated Platy (X. variatus).
The different strains are described on the basis Even depth Fan-shaped
of their coloration, patterning, and fin type, and of coloration anal fin
it is quite possible for two or even three of these
characteristics to be evident in a single individual, Blue Platy The distinctive sky-blue body color of Gold Comet Platy Gold variants were among the first to
as typified by a Blue Wagtail Hi-Fin Platy, for the Blue Platy contrasts with the dark spot on the be created. This form combines peachy-gold coloration
example. Such is the scope represented by the caudal fin. A blue strain of platy with a red caudal with black stripes on the top and bottom of the caudal
different characteristics identified in the Platy that fin now seems to have died out. fin. It is also known as the Twin-Bar Platy.
in excess of 325,000 varieties could be created
without resorting to hybridization with other
Xiphophorus species. What sometimes occurs is Upturned mouth
that, in the quest to establish a particular feature,
the breeding stock is too closely related, which Rich, even, orange-
reduces the fertility of the strain. Unless corrected red body coloration
by outcrossing to unrelated bloodlines,
the strain may ultimately die out.

Pintail Red Wagtail Platy The Pintail first
arose in Germany. Specimens in which the
elongated part of the caudal fin has
become wider are known as Plumetails.

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