BESTSELLER OF OCTOBER 2007

Quick Facts

Scientific Name : Xiphophorus Maculatus (bi-color)

Size : 5cm

Diet : flakes, live & frozen dried food

Water Conditions : 18 - 26 ºC; pH 7 - 8; 

dH 10 - 25

Care Level : Easy

Reproduction : Livebearers

Xiphophorus Maculatus

The Bi-Color Platy is one of the new variations of Platys and has been successfully reared in Asian countries. It is a popular fish and yet it is an easy fish to be taken care of. The Platy fish comes in different variations such as the variegated, long tail, high fin, etc. These Platys can be very active fishes if they are given the right water conditions.

The gender of the Platy can be differentiated by the size of the fish. At the same age, the female Platy is usually of a larger size as compared to the males. The females can reach a size of up to 2.5 inches while the males can only reach the size of up to about 1.5 inches. Besides the size, the males have a modified anal fin called a gonopodium. This can only be found on the males and not the females.

The Bi-Color Platy is a livebearer and hence the babies can swim immediately after birth. Therefore, there is usually less effort needed in getting them to breed. If you have a male and a female, chances will be that they will breed. However, by placing two to three female Platys in the same tank with one male Platy, there would be  higher chances of breeding the young. This process would usually take approximately 10 - 20 days. After the young is born, the parents would have to be separated from them.

The Bi-Color Platy is a community fish that can be kept with other species like other livebearer fishes such as  swordtails and mollies, etc.