Platy "pineapple needle" - Xiphophorus maculatus

Among the great different color forms and breeding variants, the Pineapple Needle Platy is a particularly pretty representative, which originates just like its cousins from Central America. With its bright head and the shiny scales in the back area this little guy enriches every aquarium! Towards the middle of the body it turns orange, over the caudal fin yellow with needlefine black lines on the outer seams. It is more often called mirror pl aty and belongs to the Xiphophorus maculatus.

You will receive our Pineapple Needle Platys mixed sexed.

Like its relatives, the Pineapple Needle Platy is a live-bearing toothcarp whose natural biotopes are found in Guyana and northern Mexico. Primarily in shallow and partially stagnant waters, the platy inhabits pools and streams, but all of these lead into rivers. The weedy bank zones are preferred by him. Since it is very closely related to the variable mirror carp, Xiphophorus variatus, and can mate with it, resulting in hybrids, these two should not be kept together in the same aquarium. With its other relatives, such as mollies and guppies, this risk does not exist.

The sexes differ on the one hand in the size, because the males remain in the size somewhat behind the females, which grow up to 6 cm. They also develop an anal fin that has been converted into a sexual organ, which also distinguishes them from each other. In addition, the females become more massive and plump. After mating, the female, like the guppy, can store semen for a while and fertilize herself. She releases about 80-100 young per litter, which retreat into the dense plants for protection from the mouths of fellow fish. In general, they are very easy to reproduce.

These very sociable animals need their group to really feel comfortable, so we recommend keeping Platies at least in groups of 10. Aquariums of 60 liters or more are suitable, but preferably 80 liters or more. They do very well in medium to hard water. With a temperature between 18-28 °C they can even tolerate room temperature. Since the animals like to retreat once to rest, their new home should be well planted in places.

The Xiphophorus maculatus can be kept together with other fish, if they are peaceful and have similar water parameters. They can also be kept together with other color varieties of the Platys, but new colors can develop. In the community aquarium are also suitable Corydoras, tetras, danios and Loricariid catfish. Also larger shrimps, such as the popular Amano shrimp or Fan shrimp get along with them. Well reproducing Dwarf shrimp species will usually not turn a hair of the Pineapple Needle Play, but it can happen that sometimes a shrimp pup disappears.

The omnivorous and algae-eating Pineapple Platy is very easy to feed in the aquarium with commercial granulated food, dry food or food flakes for omnivorous ornamental fish. From time to time, live or frozen foods such as Tubifexwhite, black or red Mosquito larvaeand Daphnia, Grindalworms or Artemia may be given to them as a treat. Also they like to nibble sometimes on soft vegetables such as soaked Zucchini chips or Pumpkin chips, or also Algae leaves.

Our food recommendation: The fragrant NatureHolic Guppyfeed  was tailor-made for the needs of guppies and other viviparous fish in the aquarium. In addition to high-quality animal ingredients, it also contains vegetable components that benefit guppies & co. The soft granules protect the sensitive mouth of the viviparous from injuries caused by hard food grains and provide the fish with a natural feeding experience.

Our plant recommendation: For planting, use NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.