​Platy Care Guide

​

(Xiphophorus maculatus / variatus)

Platies are hardy, peaceful freshwater fish with vibrant colors and easygoing temperaments. They’re ideal for community tanks and beginner aquarists and come in many beautiful color morphs (e.g., Mickey Mouse, Sunset, Tuxedo).

🏠 Tank Setup

• Tank Size:

  • Minimum: 10 gallons.

  • Ideal: 20+ gallons if mixing sexes or keeping with other species

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)

  • pH: 7.0–8.2

  • Hardness: 10–28 dGH

  • Ammonia/Nitrites: 0 ppm

  • Nitrates: < 40 ppm

• Filtration:
  Use a reliable filter with gentle-to-moderate flow

• Substrate & Décor:

  • Sand or gravel

  • Live or silk plants (e.g., Anubias, Java fern, Water wisteria)

  • Caves, driftwood, or decorations for hiding and exploring

• Lighting:
  8–12 hours per day; standard LED lighting works well

👨‍👩‍👧 Tank Mates

• Peaceful Companions:

  • Guppies

  • Mollies

  • Corydoras

  • Tetras

  • Swordtails

  • Shrimp and snails

• Avoid:

  • Aggressive or fin-nipping species (e.g., tiger barbs, bettas)

  • Large cichlids or predatory fish

🍽️ Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous
  Offer a variety of:

  • High-quality flake or micro pellets

  • Live/frozen foods (brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms)

  • Blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach, peas)

• Feeding Schedule:
  1–2 times daily, in amounts they can eat within 2–3 minutes

👶 Breeding & Sexing

• Livebearers:
  Females give birth to 20–50 fry every ~4 weeks

• Sexing Platies:

  • Males: Smaller, slimmer, have a gonopodium (pointed anal fin)

  • Females: Larger, rounder belly, fan-shaped anal fin

• Breeding Tips:

  • Use a 1 male:2+ female ratio to reduce stress

  • Add plants like Java moss for fry hiding spots

  • If you want to raise fry, separate them into a nursery tank or breeding box

🧽 Maintenance

• Weekly Tasks:

  • 25–30% water change

  • Gravel vacuuming

  • Water testing (especially ammonia, nitrites, nitrates)

• Monthly:

  • Rinse filter media in tank water

  • Check equipment (heater, filter, lights)

⚠️ Common Issues

• Stress & aggression:
  Usually due to overcrowding or improper male:female ratio

• Diseases:

  • Ich (white spots)

  • Fin rot

  • Internal parasites (rare but possible)

• Maintain good water quality and stable parameters to prevent illness.

💡 Quick Tips

• Keep in groups of 3+ (best with more females than males)

• Don’t overcrowd — platies are active swimmers and need space

• Use a tight lid — they may jump

• Consider adding floating plants to provide cover and reduce stress

❤️ Final Thoughts

Platies are colorful, active, and incredibly easy to care for. They're a fantastic choice for community tanks or breeding projects. With clean water, balanced food, and a peaceful environment, platies will thrive and brighten up any aquarium.