Variatus Fish
The variatus platy fish is the second species of platy.
Variatus fish. Variatus platies are omnivorous by nature often feeding on worms crustaceans insects and plant matter in the wild. Variatus has no claw at the tip ray. They can crossbreed with each other and with swordtail species which has resulted in many different color variations.
In the wild they are olive in color with black marbling or spots on the side of the caudal peduncle. Additional names variatus platy sunset platy variegated platy variable platyfish additional scientific names platypoecilus maculatus dorsalis platypoecilus variatus platypoecilus variegatus. The size of variatus platy fish is slightly larger than the southern platy fish.
The variable platy fish is native to the southern waters of mexico from rio panuco to rio cazones. What are the different platy fish types. Large males show blackish blotches on the dorsal fin.
Variatus can be distinguished from x. The maximum size that it can attain is usually 2 8 inches with the female having a bigger body than the male. The variatus platy is a different species to the standard platy and prefers cooler temperatures.
They will thrive in unheated tanks that are kept within a centrally heated home. This last feature has been seized upon by many breeders with some stunning high finned varieties available. A live bearer it is native to southern tamaulipas and northern veracruz states in northeastern mexico.
In captivity these fish are not picky eaters and will readily accept a variety of live frozen and freeze dried foods. These species are found in canals ditches warm springs and marshes. Maculatus by its slimmer more elongated body shape and slightly longer dorsal fin.
The variatus platy xiphophorus variatus grows to a maximum overall length of 7 0 cm 2 8 in. The wild form is sometimes seen in the hobby and is a very pretty fish indeed. It is also known as the variegated or variable platy fish and is found in the waters of mexico.
Ideally keep at least two females to every male to ensure that no single female has to continuously cope with the males constant amorous intentions. The variable platyfish xiphophorus variatus also known as variatus platy or variegated platy is a species of freshwater fish in family poecilidae of order cyprinodontiformes. Sexing edit edit source females have a fan shaped anal fin and males have a gonopodium these fish breed readily in the tank and produce 50 100 fry every four to six weeks.
Unlike some other members of the genus x. The two species most commonly available in fish stores are xiphophorus maculatus southern platyfish and xiphophorus variatus variable or variatus platy.