Vital Statistics

Description

Origin: Mexico to Central America

Size: 2.25 inches female; 1.75 inches male

Temperament: peaceful

Sociability: loose shoals

Breeding: livebearer

Sexing: females are larger; males usually more colorful, anal fin collapsed to a tube called gonopodium

Diet: omnivorous

Water Chemistry: pH 6.8–7.8; dH 9–19

Temperature: 72–80°F

Above: male and female sunburst tuxedo platies

A hardy, peaceful, community fish that adds lots of color, platies come in many color varieties. The wild fish is primarily gray, with a reflective blue overtone. It has a crescent-shaped black spot at the base of the tail, which led to the original common name of "blue moon." You may still, sometimes, see platies labeled as moons.

Many more-colorful tank-raised strains have since been developed. Wag platies have black fins. Tuxedo platies have black flanks. Crescent platies have a black crescent at the base of the tail, while Mickey Mouse platies have three spots, resembling Mickey's head and ears.