Red Platy Xiphophorus maculatus species

Common Name Red Platy

Scientific Name Xiphophorus maculatus species

Family Poeciliidae

Community General

Class Platy

Temperature 78 ºF

Swimming Range Top-Middle-Bottom

Adult Length 2-2 1/2 inches

Feeding Habits Fresh spinach, zucchini, peas and lettuce. Live fish, blood worms, glass worms, brine shrimp and tubifex worms. Frozen plankton, vegetable diet, daphnia, beef heart, brine shrimp, glass worms and blood worms. Freeze dried and flake foods also accepted.

Compatibility An active, peaceful and schooling fish that mixes well with other community fish. Habitat Mexico: Moderately decorated with rocks, live plants and driftwood.

Breeding The male has a gonopodium (underneath the body of the male is one fin that hangs down and what looks like a fin folded up against his body, this is the gonopodium. Where as the female has two fins that hang straight down). They are livebearers that can have between 20-40 live babies at a time.

Additional Comments There have been many different color variation developed by commercial breeders throughout the years.