Platy "tricolor" - Xiphophorus maculatus

A great color form of the Central American Platy is the Tricolor Platy. With its wonderful colors this mirror platy is another representative of the Xiphophorus maculatus, which enjoy a large fan circle in the aquaristics. Especially the uncomplicated keeping and the easy reproduction make it a very popular beginner fish, which forgives quite a few mistakes.

Tricolor Platys have a very bright body color, which changes in the middle into an orange and to the body end into a noble black. It can also show pretty shades on the head and forebody.

Also this Xiphophorus maculatus belongs just like other color forms of the Platys, to the popular family of the live-bearing tooth carps. In its habitat, the wild form of the Platy is also found in stagnant and gently flowing swamps and streams, some of which flow into rivers. Thereby the animals inhabit weedy bank zones. The Tricolor Platy is so closely related to the Variable Mirror Carp (Xiphophorus variatus) that these two species may cross and hybridize in the aquarium. To prevent this, it is better not to keep these two species together. Even though its relatives include the popular mollies and guppies, there is no danger of hybridization here.

With a difference of 4 to 6 cm the males usually stay smaller than the females. They also do not become quite as round and massive. They have a sexual appendage under the abdomen called the gonopodium, which is an anal fin converted to a mating organ; females lack this, making it easy to distinguish the two. After mating, the female gives birth to between 80 and 100 young after about three to four weeks. Similar to the guppies, she is a live-bearing toothcarp that can store the male's semen and use it to fertilize herself several more times. Since the adults chase their own young, the aquarium should be well stocked with fine plants to allow the young to retreat. The babies can be raised well with infusoria and dust food, later also with freshly hatched Artemia nauplii. Another alternative is the use of a so-called rearing box.

These very sociable animals derive their strength from the group size, therefore they should be kept together with at least 10 animals. In an aquarium from 54 liters they can be maintained well. Since platies originate from soft to medium hard water, they can be kept well at a total hardness (GH) of 5 to 25 ° dGH and a KH between 5 to 20 °dKH, as well as a pH of 7-8.5 and a temperature of 18 to 28 °C. As in their habitat, the aquarium may gladly show a strong weediness in the form of different water plants, which nevertheless leave them enough space to swim.

Tricolor can be very well socialized with other peaceful fish that can cope with similar water parameters. They can also be kept with other platies, but it may happen that they mate with each other, creating a new colorful mix. Also suitable in the community aquarium are corydoras, tetras, danios and Loricariid catfish are well suited, but also larger shrimps, such as the popular Amano shrimp or Fan shrimp. Also suitable are well multiplying Dwarf shrimp speciesif they have enough hiding places and retreat possibilities.

Tricolor Platys are omnivores that can be fed in the aquarium without problems with commercial granulated food, dry food or food flakes for omnivorous ornamental fish. From time to time the fish can also be fed with live or frozen food such as Tubifexwhite, black or red Mosquito larvae, as well as Daphnia, Grindalworms or Artemia get. As algae and growth eaters they also keep the aquarium clean. In addition, they also like to eat 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 requirements 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.