Livebearers · Xiphophorus
Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus · Atlantic slope of Mexico and Central America
We don't have a photo of the Platy yet. If you keep one, send us a picture of your fish and your name goes on its card.
Give us a picture and get creditAt a glance
Water temperature
20–26 °C 68–79 °F
pH
7–8.2 hard, alkaline water
Adult size
5 cm 2 in
Swims
Mid-water and top mostly in open water
Keep together
3 or more a shoal feels safe
Current
Calm still or slow water
Food
Eats most foods
Temperament
Peaceful
≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.
Where it comes from
Home water
Atlantic slope of Mexico and Central America
Lives in stream habitat.
The dot marks where it's collected. Home from iNaturalist native sightings (14). Map: Natural Earth.
Tank mates
Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with low flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.
Good together
- Peppermint bristlenose L181 Plecos · 13 cm · bottom
-
Flash pleco L204
Plecos · 11 cm · bottom -
Agassiz's dwarf cichlid
Cichlids · 7.5 cm · bottom -
Amano shrimp
Shrimp & snails · 5 cm · bottom -
Bolivian ram
Cichlids · 8 cm · bottom -
Bronze corydoras
Corydoras · 7 cm · bottom -
Butterfly hillstream loach
Loaches · 8 cm · bottom -
Cardinal tetra
Tetras · 4 cm · mid-water
Keep apart
-
Need different temperatures and need a different pH and will eat the platy
-
Will eat the platy
AngelfishBlood parrotBlue acaraDeep water hapElectric blue hap
-
Aggressive and will eat the platy
In the hobby
Where to find it
No store or breeder we know of has it right now.
Run a store? List the fish you usually have. Breed fish? List your fry.
Tanks with this fish
From keepers
Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.
Questions keepers ask
How big does a Platy get?
About 5 cm (2 in) as an adult.
What temperature does a Platy need?
20–26 °C (68–79 °F).
What pH does a Platy need?
pH 7–8.2.
Does a Platy need to be kept in a group?
Yes. Keep at least 3.
Is the Platy aggressive?
No. It is peaceful with fish that suit the same water.
What does a Platy eat?
It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.
Where does the Platy come from?
Atlantic slope of Mexico and Central America.
What fish can live with a Platy?
Good tank mates include Peppermint bristlenose (L181), Flash pleco (L204), Agassiz's dwarf cichlid, Amano shrimp, Bolivian ram.
All the numbers
| Temperature min (°C) | 20 | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature max (°C) | 26 | Estimate |
| pH min | 7 | Estimate |
| pH max | 8.2 | Estimate |
| Adult size (cm) | 5 | Estimate |
| Flow | Low | Estimate |
| Habitat | stream | Estimate |
| Smallest happy group | 3 | Estimate |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Estimate |
| Diet | Omnivore | Estimate |
| Typical price min (CAD) | 2 | Estimate |
| Typical price max (CAD) | 5 | Estimate |
Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.
