Size: females: up to 2.5 inches (7 cm), males: somewhat
smaller at 2.0 inches (6 cm)
pH: 7.0 to 8.3
Temperature: 68-79°F (20-26°C)
Tank Size: 10 gallons or larger
Tank Range: Top,
Middle, Bottom
Care: Platies are omnivorous and will generally eat
all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. But they have a very high herbivorous requirement, and their diet needs to include lots of algae and other
vegetation, such as a vegetable based flake. You can feed them brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat. They will enjoy the proteins but they must also have vegetation in their diet. They do like a bit of salt though it is not necessary.
Sexing:
The female is usually bigger than a male of the same age. Males also have a modified anal fin called a gonopodium. It is a bit more difficult to sex them until they are mature as male platies won't show their colors until
they are mature.
Breeding:
Livebearer: Platies are prolific breeders, and usually not much more is need than a just to have fish of both sexes for them
to breed. Like most livebearers, a female platy can give birth every 28 days.
Lots of floating and ground cover will give the baby platies a better chance at survival.
You could also put the babies in a separate tank or breeding net to raise them large enough that the adults will not
eat them. It is best to keep platies in groups of 1 male to 3 or more females.
