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Platy Moonfish

Variegated Platy ~ Variatus Platy ~ Swordtail Platy

Family: Poeciliidae (Platy or Moonfish)Xiphophorous maculatus

   The Platy is considered the color king of the live-bearer fishes! It is one of the best beginner fish and is excellent for community aquariums!

   The Platy or Moonfish, Xiphophorous maculatus and the Variegated Platy or Variatus Platy, Xiphophorous variatus are a short stocky fish lacking the extended tail fin or "sword" of their close relative, the Swordtail  Xiphophorous helleri. These bright colored fish can be kept in a smaller tank than the Swordtail and are more peaceful, active, and hardy. They are also dependably prolific.

   Although nowadays the platies have been interbred with themselves and with swordtails to the point where it is now hard to separate species. Originally there were two common species available to the hobbyist: the Platy or Moonfish Xiphophorous maculatus, and the the slimmer and more elongated Variegated Platy or Variatus Platy Xiphophorous variatus.

   Today platies come in all colors and mixtures of colors. Many beautiful color variations and hybrids have been produced. Platies cross easily with each other and with other Xiphophorous species, thus a wide variety of popular platies are available today.

   An aquarium best suited to the platies is well lit with plants. Like all livebearers, they do like a bit of salt though it is not necessary. The plants should be loosely arranged for the Platy or Moonfish and densely planted with open swimming areas for the Variegated Platy or Variatus Platy. Have some floating plants for the fry to hide, though Platies don't eat their fry other community tankmates will.

   The male platies won't show their colors until they are mature and they will show best if the aquarium is kept at the cooler end of their temperature range.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The Platy or Moonfish Xiphophorous maculatus are found on the Atlantic coast of Mexico and Guatamala, and northern Honduras. It was first introduced in 1907. They were often called "Moonfish" because of a crescent shaped dark spot at the base of their tail, especially on the yellow colored ones.
   The Variegated Platy or Variatus Platy Xiphophorous variatus are found in southern Mexico from Rio Panuco to Rio Cazones. It was identified in 1904 but not introduced into the hobby until 1932. They were an immediate hit and become one of the best liked livebearers.
   There is also a very sensitive species called the Swordtail Platy Xiphophorous xiphidium in which the male has a short sword. This delicate platy is rather rare and not seen much in the hobby.

   So many beautiful color variations and hybrids have been produced, it is difficult to find the pure-bred original strains. Today pure breds are the exception rather than the rule and their colors vary depending on the waters they originated from.

Popular varieties developed from the Platy or Moonfish:
   The solid colored fish include the very popular Red Platy or Coral Platy which will be either a deep blood red or a brick red and the Golden Platy which has an all over bright yellow color.
   The term "Moonfish" is applied when the fish have a specific color along with a black crescent shaped dot on the tail fin, these include the Red Moon, Blue Moon (Blue Platy), and the Gold Moon (Gold Crescent).
   The term "Wagtail" is applied when the fish have a specific color along with black on the tail, these include The Red Wagtail Platy, the Gold Wagtail Platy, the Black Wagtail Platy, and the Mixed Wagtail Platy.
   The term "Tuxedo" is applied when the fish have a specific color along with a black coloration below the lateral line from the gill to the tail, these include the Black Platy often called the Black Tuxedo or Green Tuxedo and has a greenish body.
   The Salt-and-Pepper Platy is mixed with a bit of all the colors and it breeds these colors true, the Mixed Platy has various colors with no particular pattern and it doesn't breed true.

Popular varieties developed from the Variegated or Variatus Platy:
   Redtail Platy varieties have a tail that is bright red.
   The Yellowtail Platy varieties will have a yellow tail fin.
   The Sunset Platy varieties have a tail with more than a single color but with yellow being prominent, though they are also called this when they have yellow dorsal fin and a red tail fin.
   In the Rainbow Platy varieties the tail has multiple colors with no one color being prominent.
   The Hawaii Platy has an entirely black body with a yellow dorsal fin and red tail fin.
   The Marigold Platy is yellow on the dorsal fin and top of the body with the lower half and the tail fin being orange.
   Other popular varieties include the Comet Platy, Gold Twinbar Platy, Sunset Fire Platy, Blue Mirror Platy, Two-Spot Platy where there are two small dots at the top and bottom where the tailfin begins and the similar Mickey Mouse Platy where the two small dots have a large dark spot in the middle, Half-moon Platy, and Bleeding-heart Platy.

   Many characteristics including special finnage such as Topsails, Sailfins, Hifins, and Plumetails or Brushtails come from Swordtail cross breeding.

• Scientific Name: Xiphophorous maculatus
• Social Grouping: Groups - Platies are not a schooling fish but they appreciate lots of company!
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Fish Keeping Difficulty

• Aquarium Hardiness: Very Hardy
• Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

Foods and Feeding

   These fish are considered omnivorous as the Platy or Moonfish and the Variegated Platy or Variatus Platy will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. But they have a very high herbivorous requirement, and their diet needs to include lots of algae and other vegetation. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen), tubifex, or blood worms as a treat. They will enjoy the proteins but they must also have a vegetation diet.

• Diet Type: Omnivore
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Some of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

• Water Changes: Monthly

Aquarium Setup

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gal (38 L)
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
• Temperature: 64.0 - 77.0° F (17.8 - 25.0° C)
• Range ph: 7.0-8.3
• Hardness Range: 15 - 30 dGH
• Brackish: No - This is not a brackish fish, however it does seem to appreciate the addition of a little salt in the water. Around 1-1.25 teaspons of aquarium salt should suffice. Removed water should be replaced with salted water, however if the aquarist is topping off due to evaporation freshwater should be used.
• Water Movement: Moderate
• Water Region: All

Social Behaviors

   They are an excellent community fish that is very peaceful, and does not look for trouble with other tankmates.

• Venomous: No
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Same species - conspecifics: Yes
• Peaceful fish (): Safe
• Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
• Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Safe - not aggressive

Sex: Sexual differences

   The female is larger and generally rather plain, though in many of the fancy platies today they have more color. The male has a gonopodium. It is difficult to sex platies until they are mature as the male does not attain his coloration until then.

Breeding / Reproduction

   The Platy or Moonfish and the Variegated Platy or Variatus Platy will readily reproduce in the aquarium. See the description of how to breed livebearers in Breeding Freshwater Fish - Livebearers.

• Ease of Breeding: Easy

Availability

   The Platy or Moonfish and the Variegated Platy or Variatus Platy is readily available.

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

Author: David Brough, CFS & Clarice Brough, CFS.

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Lastest Comments on Platies - Moonfish View all 72 comments on Platies - Moonfish Add Your Comment

Maeve - 2012-05-17 I have recently bought a platy and it was rather fat when I got it but I didn't think much of it. Now it's really, REEAALLY fat. Is she pregnant or have I been over feeding her? I give the fish in my tank 1 small pinch of food a day. Jeremy Roche - 2012-05-17 You should be able to see the fry inside. Will be a large black mass inside. Maeve - 2012-05-20 No, it's just quite pale around her belly. But she is so fat she HAS to be pregnant. She is very shy and hides most of the time. Is that a sign of pregnancy? Maeve - 2012-05-21 She has a gravid spot so she must be pregnant! It is very dark now! Reply

allie - 2008-05-01 I must be doing something wrong here. I bought a little red, male platy and just recently a female who is about two and a half times his size. I can't get them to breed at all. nm123 - 2011-11-16 Thats because you have to have (2 females) for every (1 male). Anonymous - 2012-03-03 They probably aren't fully grown yet give it some time. Jeremy Roche - 2012-03-04 It will happen if water conditions are right and other fish aren't causing them to be nervous. I would add another male and 3 or 4 more females if your tank has room. Better chance of breeding if their are multiple females for a mature male. Maeve - 2012-05-17 Try getting more fish, generaly you need at least 2 or 3 females or 1 male. Maeve - 2012-05-17 I mean 2 or 3 females for 1 male soz Jeremy Roche - 2012-05-17 It's not instant. I would add another 2 or 3 females. Make sure water conditions are right and soon you will have fry every where. Reply

Maeve - 2012-05-17 I only have one platy but I think it is pregnant. Maybe it mated in the pet shop??? It definitly has got fatter! But not much,only a bit. Is it pregnant at all? Reply

Anonymous - 2012-01-02 HELP for my beloved platy, please! I have a female red wag platy that has been 'treading water' at the top of the tank for some time now (over the course of 1 day). Normally an active fish, and the worst part is, my male platy literally is showing sadness and is trying to get her to see him, but she's not moving. It's such a sad sight :( no signs of ich, nothing unusual that I've noticed. Doesn't look like she's birthing at all. My tank (20g): 1 female red wag platy 1 male sunset platy 2 male lyretail mollies 1 male dalmatian molly 1 blue mystery snail 4 platy fry (in maturation tank) Planted, temp 77 degrees F, good and stable conditions, water changes (1/3) weekly, filter changes every 1-2 weeks. I truly appreciate any help or advice for my platy. Thank you. Anonymous - 2012-03-03 Buy another female platy. Clarice Brough - 2012-03-04 It's hard to say what's going on, especially because you aren't seeing any signs of ich or other illnesses. You could try putting her in her own tank with good water conditions, and keep an eye on her. There's could be things going on that you can't see too. It doesn't sound like a swim bladder problem, but once in awhile one can have kidney problems which can make them not swim, but nothing can be done for that really. Also, Platies only have a lifespan of about 2 - 3 years, so it may just be old age or she may just not be a healthy fish. Reply

Anonymous - 2012-03-03 My platy has white scales on top near its eyes. It is about 1/2 inch long and a few centimeters wide. I dont know if she cut herself or if she's just sick. Please help Jeremy Roche - 2012-03-04 Hard to real answer without more or a picture. Sometimes if Amonia levels are spiking fish will itch themselves and leave almost a white scab. Eyes clouding at all? Only in that one spot? Reply

lizz - 2012-01-09 I have blue moons that just had babies. Shes had about 23 so far. I think I moved her out of the breeding box to soon and she may still have more in her... shes still got the black stop not interested in food and not very active. so questions 1) how do I know when she is done giving birth 2) the fry are in a net breeding basket is this better than the plastic box... also tips on raising the fry is welcomed nm123 - 2012-01-19 if the black spot is still there your fish is still pregnantt i would recommend you move the fish back into the net breeder move the fry into another tank to prevent the mother from eAting the young or end up losing the pregnant mother platy I would highly recommend that you use a plastic net breeder because if you have anglefish in the tank you will end up losing most of the babies also when the fish is done giving birth the black spot will fade Reply

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