Breeding Platys Cheat Sheet

Scientific Name:         Xiphophorus maculatus

Platys are hardy, vibrantly colored fish of various colors and patterns. They were among the first tropical fish kept in aquariums and remain amongst the most popular. They are extremely easy to breed – just try to stop them – and this has helped in their popularity.

Sexing the Fish:

The anal fin of mature males looks like a tube or rod and is called a gonopodium. The male uses his gonopodium to impregnate the females. A pregnant, or gravid, female will demonstrate a dark spot in front of the anal fin where the livebearers gestate. A female can hold sperm packets from one insemination for months.

Water Conditions:

Water conditions are not critical for livebearers. They grow like weeds. However, the ideal range is 72 – 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Equipment:

You do not need special equipment to raise livebearers. However, some java ferns or floating plants are highly beneficial and give the fry a place to hide and feed. Because parents do eat their young, it is best to separate the parents from the fry and raise the fry separately in a rearing tank.

Conditioning:

As stated before just try to stop these guys from breeding, special conditioning is not needed. However, for best results try separating the male from the female for a couple weeks and feed both live food such as worms, brine shrimp, and mosquito larvae.

Gestation:

Gestation is about 28 days. Shortly before dropping her fry the female will develop a dark gravid spot in front of the anal fin. At this point it is best to move her to a breeding tank. I do not recommend breeding traps as they are usually too small, will cause the female undo stress, and cause her to abort.

Fry:

A female’s brood size depends on her size and environmental conditions. The brood size ranges from a few to a hundred. If you are raising the fry in a community tank then be sure to provide plenty of thick plants and floating plants. For best results, move the fry to a grow out tank with a sponge filter and heater. Feed the fry either live baby brine shrimp and/or crushed tropical fish flakes. The fry are sensitive to water quality so be sure to change 10% to 25% of the water daily.