Assorted Platy
Assorted Platies
Species: Xiphophorus maculatus
Growth Form: Livebearer
Colouration: Assorted Colours & Patterns
Temperament: Peaceful
Tank Size: Minimum 10 Gallons
Placement: Middle to Upper
Lighting: Low to Moderate
Flow: Low to Moderate
Diet: Omnivore – Flakes, Pellets, Spirulina, Algae-Based Foods, Brine Shrimp & Daphnia
Feeding: 1–2 Times Daily
Reef Safe: Not Applicable – Freshwater
Care Level: Easy
Special Notes: Hardy, colourful community fish available in a variety of colours and patterns. Livebearers that can produce large numbers of fry.
Assorted Platies
Common Names
- Assorted Platy
- Platy Fish
- Platy
- Xiphophorus maculatus
Identification
Assorted Platies are a colourful selection of peaceful freshwater livebearers available in a variety of colours and patterns. Depending on availability, assorted groups may include Red, Sunset, Mickey Mouse, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Tuxedo, Wagtail, Calico and other attractive colour varieties.
Platies have a compact, slightly rounded body and are an excellent choice for community aquariums. Adult fish typically reach approximately 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm), with females generally being larger and fuller-bodied than males.
Behaviour & Role
Platies are active, peaceful and social community fish that spend most of their time swimming through the middle and upper portions of the aquarium. They are excellent beginner fish due to their hardiness, colourful appearance and easy-care requirements.
Platies are livebearers and will readily reproduce when males and females are kept together. For mixed-sex groups, keeping approximately one male for every two or three females can help reduce excessive attention towards individual females.
Compatibility & Caution
Platies are peaceful and compatible with a wide range of community fish. Avoid housing them with aggressive or highly predatory species.
Suitable tank mates include:
- Guppies
- Mollies
- Swordtails
- Corydoras
- Tetras
- Rasboras
- Peaceful Gouramis
- Other Platies
- Other peaceful community fish
Care Level
Easy
- Tank Size: Minimum 10 gallons; 20 gallons or larger recommended for a group
- Temperature: 70–80°F (21–27°C)
- pH: 7.0–8.2
- Water Hardness: Moderate to Hard
Platies are highly adaptable and thrive in clean, well-filtered aquariums with stable water parameters. They generally prefer neutral to slightly alkaline water and benefit from moderate mineral content.
A varied diet should include:
- High-quality flakes
- Micro pellets
- Spirulina
- Algae-based foods
- Brine shrimp
- Daphnia
- Bloodworms
Including vegetable matter in their diet helps support good health and natural grazing behaviour.
Tank Mates
Excellent companions include:
- Guppies
- Mollies
- Swordtails
- Corydoras
- Tetras
- Rasboras
- Peaceful Gouramis
- Other Platies
- Other peaceful community fish
Fun Fact
Platies are livebearers, meaning females give birth to fully formed, free-swimming fry rather than laying eggs. A healthy female can produce dozens of fry from a single brood, making them one of the most popular livebearers for beginners and community aquariums.