Platy (Xiphophorus sp.)

Xiphophorus variatus: Platypoecilus maculatus dorsalis, Platypoecilus variatus, Platypoecilus variegatus 

Xiphophorus maculatus: Platy, platyfish, Southern platyfish,

Xiphophorus hellerii: Sword tail, green sword tail (from the colour of this fish in the wild, though most sword tails in captivity  are red, orange or yellow).

In practice, with the exception of sword tails all other names are used interchangeably.

Poeciliidae

Río Claro at Tlatzintla (20^o52^'51^''N, 98^o47^'56^''W). (1) "The genus Xiphophorus is found from northeastern Mexico (Coahuila) for about 2200 Km as far as Honduras. There are 26 species, of which 21 occupy headwaters on the eastern slope of the Sierra Madre Oriental and continuing Cordillera to the southeast. Virtually all the species in the headwaters occupy limited ranges, often in rivers traversing karst country that are separated from lowland streams by underground passages. Only the three forms in the coastal plain are more widely distributed. Nineteen taxa occur within 400 Km of the Mexican Trans Volcanic Belt, suggesting that the genus may have evolved in this region. In many localities two species are sympatric, but natural hybrids are only known from three or four sites. Four monophyletic groups have been identified: the northern platyfish and the northern swordtail groups, north of the Mexican Trans Volcanic Axis, and to the south the helleri and the clemenciae swordtail groups. The status of the three southern platyfish is still not resolved and the phylogenetic relationship of the different groups to each other is still not fully understood." (2)

Xiphophorus from Gk xifos = sword and phero = carry; variatus from Latin variare, varius = mark with different (contrasting) colours, variegate, vary, diverse; maculatus from Latin = with spots, spotty, referring to the spot of this fish in the abdominal area, helleri in honour of the aquarist C. Heller. 

 males 5-6 cm; females 7 cm TL.

The fish has an elongated body with a fan-shaped caudal fin. The back is slightly arched and the belly is full. The body colours vary.  "Pectoral fins placed high on side of body; anterior placement of pelvic fins; pleural ribs  on the first several haemal arches; ventral  hyphyral forms a bony cap over the anterior facet of the anterior ceratohyal; supraorbital pores  modified such that neuromasts are found embedded  in fleshy  grooves." (3)

Adult males are smaller and have a gonopodium close to the anal fin; females are larger and plumper. Sword-tails have a characteristic elongation at the lower part of the caudal fin which resembles a sword.

Endemic to Mexico from southern Tamaulipas to northern Veracruz. Populations have been introduced to other areas too, mainly due to releasing captive individuals to local waters. Some of the feral populations which have established themselves in Africa, Madagascar and Australia have been indicated as causing damage to the local environment due to the fact they are prolific spawners.

7-8

We have kept and successfully bred this fish in temperatures ranging from 22° C - 28° C. Xiphophorus variatus will withstand lower temperatures (16^oC); however as hobbyists cannot be sure this is the fish they are getting it preferrable to keep platies in a minimum temperature of 20^oC-22^oC. Reported temperatures for Xiphophorus range from 15^oC to 26^oC.

In nature the fish is found in slow, shallow rivers. 

In the wild it is reported to feed on plants, worms, crustaceans and insects. In the aquarium it will easily accept flakes and pellets. Make sure to provide it with a good quality diet including vegetables and animal protein. Cyclops, black mosquito larvae and artemia salina are favourite foods.

A peaceful fish, will do well with other small community fish.

Peaceful small and medium size fish is the obvious choice. We keep our fish with corydoras and young Loricariidae (panaque, ancistrus, Hypancistrus etc) growing up. Do not attempt to keep this fish with predators.

A 40 - 60 lit squarish tank is sufficient for 10 -14 individuals. This fish breeds often so the colony will soon double in size. If the colony is not separated the tank will soon be insufficient.

Adult males will constantly chase females and other, younger males. 

Live bearers; multiple spawnings per year. The fish is used for genetic research. It easily interbreeds in captivity with other Xiphophorus; it is reported that in nature it only interbreeds in specific locations. (2) Other research suggests that the "swordlike exaggerated caudal fin extensions of male swordtails are conspicuous traits that are selected for through female choice... Previous laboratory experiments demonstrated that females prefer males with longer swords and even females from some swordless species show an affiliation for males of sworded species." (4)

Female Xiphophorus sp. will interbreed with male guppies (Poecillia reticulata) so it is advisable not to mix the species in a tank to avoid producing hybrids.

There are various colour forms currently available in the hobby, known with commercial names such as Mickey mouse, Sunset platy, marigiold, neon etc, as well as high finned type fish. Though the wild fish also have different colours, these are aquarium strains.

For a breeding report see Keeping and Breeding Platies (Xiphophorus sp.)