The Platy: Tips for Keeping and Breeding Platys
A Platy (Xiphophorus Maculatus) is an extreamly popular live bearing fish found in the aquarium hobby. Platys come in a wide range of colors and shapes. Their bright colors and ease of keeping have made them a very popular freshwater aquarium fish for both beginners and advanced aqaurium owners.
Learn more about Platys and other aquarium fish at Bala Shark Bay Aquarium Fish Resource
Tuxedo Platy Video
Live Bearing Fish Links
- Black Molly
- All about Mollies, care for and breeding of these aquarium fish.
- Fancy Guppy
- All about the fancy Guppy the most popular live bearing fish in the hobby. Tips on Fancy Guppy care.
- Platy Breeding & Care
- Tips and information on Platy breeding and Platy care.
- Keeping Swordtail Fish
- All about Swordtails, care for and breeding of Tuxedo, Red Velvet Swordtails and Other Popular varieties.
Keeping Your Platy Healthy
Optimal water conditions for a Platy is a temperature of about 80 F. pH values between 7.5-8.2 and hardness of about 15-30 dGH. However Platys are fairly hardy and can tolerate variations in those numbers.
Keeping the water clean by doing regular partial water changes and keeping a group of 6 or more Platys will help to keep your Platys healthy and happy.
Tips on Platy Breeding
There isn't a whole lot required to breed Platys. They are very prolific breeders and usually all that is needed is a male and a female. If the tank maintenance is kept up then a pair of Platys will regularly spawn many times, producing many broods of Platy fry. The fry should be fed crushed flake food and baby brine shrimp.
Platys are like most live bearing fish and are notorious for trying to eat their babies after they are born. To prevent this the aquarium owner should take steps to separate the fry from the mother. Options for separating the fry are either using a commercial breeding trap or providing plants as hiding places for the fry after they are born.
Follow this link to learn more about Platys.
Protect The Platy Fry
There are several different styles of commercial breeding traps available today. Each one is designed to separate the fry from the mother when they are born. Usually it is done by providing a small space for the fry to pass through away from the mother into a separate area of the breeding trap. Breeding traps can be very effective at protecting the fry but they also tend to place a lot of stress on the mother.
Using plants that provide hiding places in the aquarium is a good alternative to a breeding trap. This method will keep stress on the mother to a minimal amount. Some fry might not make it to a hiding place but the strong ones will survive.
Popular Ornamental Varieties
- Mickey Mouse Platy
- Red Wagtail Platy
- Sunset Platy
- Gold Wagtail Platy
- Hawaii Platy
- Marigold Platy
- Gold Comet Platy
- Blue Coral Platy
Platy Pair
Livebearers from the Fish Keeping Made Easy Series
Livebearers: Understanding Guppies, Mollies, Swordtails and Others (Fishkeeping Made Easy)
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 07/05/2009)
List Price: $14.95
You will have all the answers you need about keeping Platys right at your fingertips with this book in your personal library. Order your copy today!
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The Complete Pet Owner's Manual on Livebearers
Guppies, Mollies, and Platys (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/05/2009)
List Price: $8.99
This is an inexpensive book packed full of information on Guppies, Mollies, Platys and other live bearing fish. A great book for anyone who has live bearing fish in their home aquarium. Buy your copy today!
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Keeping and Breeding Platys
Platies, Keeping & Breeding Them in Captivity
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
List Price: $6.95
For the Platy owner. This book contains all the information anyone keeping platys will need to ensure they are healthy and happy. Order yours today!
The Platy Aquarium
- Fish Tank and Stand
- The most important part is the fish tank itself. The size of the tank will have a very big impact on the amount of Platys that can be kept and how many fry can be raised in the tank before it becomes crowded. The stand needs to be sturdy and able to support the weight of the tank when it is full.
- Hood and Lighting
- The hood provides a cover for the tank and will also hold the lights for the tank. Some hoods have filters built into them.
- Aquarium Heater
- Platys are warm water dwelling fish that prefer temperatures between 72 and 79 degrees. A heater is necessary to maintain the right temperature for the Platys to live in. There are many different types and styles of heaters each with their own special benefits.
- Aquarium Filter
- In an enclosed aquarium environment, waste products can build up quickly. Good filtration is a must for any tank that will be the home to Platys. A good filter will remove the toxins from the water and help keep the water conditions optimal for keeping and breeding Platys.
- Home Aquarium Supplies
- Not just supplies. This site gives you tips on buying all the right equipment to set up a fish tank. Be sure to visit this site if you're looking at setting up a platy aquarium.
What is the Coolest Platy?
Science and Nature Headlines from BBC News
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGreat Books on Amazon
Freshwater Aquarium Problem Solver (Animal Planet Pet Care Library)
Amazon Price: $10.16 (as of 07/05/2009)
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The New Aquarium Handbook: Everything About Setting Up and Taking Care of a Freshwater Aquarium (New Pet Handbooks)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Setup and Care of Freshwater Aquariums (Animal Planet Pet Care Library)
Amazon Price: $10.16 (as of 07/05/2009)
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Setting Up a Freshwater Aquarium: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Questions and Answers on Freshwater Aquarium Fishes: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Raise Healthy Fish
Amazon Price: $11.79 (as of 07/05/2009)
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Katys Tropical Fish
Katys Tropical Fish - A Complete Guide: Learn The Secrets To Setting Up And Maintaining A Professional Looking Aquarium!
Get Answers to Your Platy Questions
If you have any questions about anything to do with Platys or any other aquarium fish there is one great place to ask questions and get answers. Yahoo Answers is a place where you can ask questions and then other people can give their advice to try to answer your questions. Follow me on Yahoo Answers.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAquariums on eBay
A great way to save some money on a fish tank is to order one from eBay!
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Platy Vids on YouTube
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Reader Feedback
Give me your feedback.
rydigga wrote...
Hi Dustin, Great lens. I kept Platys when I was younger, they were fun pets. Thanks for sharing this information
Ryan
Posted January 18, 2009
CoolFoto wrote...
Welcome to our Tropical Fish group! lots of useful info so 5*. Hope all enjoy the holidays.
Posted December 18, 2008
drresearch wrote...
Love this information and it certainly has given me new insight into the world of tank fish. I have a group of angels in my tank and think I'll add some other types now.
Posted November 10, 2008
nancydodds1 wrote...
Wow! Nice Information about platy fish. Thanks for sharing.
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Posted September 26, 2008
Couch-Covers-Melanie wrote...
Excellent lens! I am an animal lover but i admit that i didn't know much about Platys! So i appreciate all the information and for the great videos you have here!
5* for your lens!
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Posted September 21, 2008
john96 wrote...
Cool profile and I also love fish and would like to invite you to our aquarium fish community if you would like to become a moderator?
http://aquatropicalfish.com/forum/index.php
John
Posted September 17, 2008
WebGazelle wrote...
Platys are schooling fish. They don't quite swim together like other schooling fish but they are social and prefer to live in groups. You should keep at least 1 male and 2 or 3 females depending on the size of the tank. I suggest a good rule would be to have 1 male and 3 females for every 10 gallons of water.
Posted August 29, 2008
WhippetTalk wrote...
I'm sad because one of my Platys died yesterday. Now I have just one male. The one that died was acting sick for 2 weeks, it has stopped eating.
Posted August 29, 2008
WhippetTalk wrote...
I just got 2 male red platies like the ones in the Polaroid photo. And a green swordtail with a female. They are doing great so far. I really wish I could find the blue wagtail ones though.
Posted August 01, 2008
Intercambio wrote...
This lens is very interesting and I'll have a look at your other lenses as well!
Learning nicely here.
Posted July 27, 2008
WhippetTalk wrote...
After more research an finally getting my tank set up, I think I want some Platys. I have to cycle my tank first. Right now I have 5 zebra danios. I have a photo of my tank on my fish lens.
Posted July 25, 2008
dtbs wrote...
interesting lens! thanks for sharing this info! please check mine out at----------------> Kava Kava.
Posted July 17, 2008
alicesy wrote...
Excellent Lens. I like the quality insight you have provided here about Keeping and Breeding Platys. Keep up the good work.
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Posted June 26, 2008
LeeCS wrote...
Cool! This is a wonderful lens! Thanks for bringing it to us! Please feel free to check out my site about low cost car insurance, how to obtain cheap classic car insurance and car insurance for females 5 stars for your wonderful lens!!
Posted June 26, 2008
smallfry wrote...
This is a great resource for the platy. You have done a good job on enlightening people about this freshwater fish.
Posted June 12, 2008
Great information, very informative, thanks alot.
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Posted May 23, 2008
Tropical Fish Secrets
Tropical Fish Secrets: Definitive Guide To Everything You Need To Know About Tropical Fish. Plus 2 Great Bonus Books!
Links to Other Aquarium Fish Resources
by WebGazelle
or owned fish since I was really little. I currently have a 20 gallon
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