TankBud

One species · 2 varieties

Variable platy

Xiphophorus variatus

Also known as Hawaii Variatus Platy

FreshwaterFish

Variable platy (Xiphophorus variatus)
Marrabbio2 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F
20–26°C
pH
6.8–8.0
Adult size
2.8 in
7 cm
Minimum tank
15 gal
55 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Livebearer · Easy
Rarity
Very common
Family
Poeciliidae
Origin
Mexico

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One setup covers every line on this page: care is the species' care.

Overview

The variable platy is a small, peaceful livebearer for the middle of a community tank. It is easy to keep and a good first fish.

Did you know

Variable platies breed so readily that you often end up with fry without trying. A healthy female can drop a brood every month or so.

Caring for the variable platy

Keep variable platies in a group in a tank of at least 15 gal (55 L). A planted tank with open swimming room suits them, and they swim mostly in the middle of the tank.

They are easy to please as long as the water stays on the harder, more alkaline side. Keep it at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) with a pH of 6.8 to 8.0.

Variable platies are not picky eaters. Feed a good flake with some vegetable matter, plus occasional frozen foods.

They are peaceful and easygoing with other community fish. Keep more females than males to spread out the males' attention. Females grow a bit larger and fuller than males.

Variable platies give birth to live young rather than scattering eggs, and breeding them is easy. Adults will eat their own young. If you want the babies to survive, plant the tank densely or move pregnant females to grow-out space before they give birth.

Good to know

The variable platy is a livebearer in the family Poeciliidae, the same group as guppies and mollies. It is also sold as the Hawaii variatus platy. Most variable platies in stores are tank-bred color forms, not wild types.

In the wild

Variable platies come from the warm, hard waters of eastern Mexico. They live in springs, ditches and slow streams with plenty of plants.

Other named lines

Variatus platies carry the same trade patterns as their southern cousins; these two are pattern names rather than separate fish.

Rainbow
multicolor flanks with dark fins
Tiger
dark marbling over gold

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Every variety on this page wants the same water, so one set of picks fits them all. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a variable platy need?

A variable platy needs at least 15 gal (55 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a variable platy need?

A variable platy is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.8–8.0.

What does a variable platy eat?

A variable platy is not a picky eater. Feed it a good flake with some vegetable matter and occasional frozen foods.

How big does a variable platy get?

An adult variable platy reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).

How can you tell a male variable platy from a female?

Females grow a bit larger and fuller than males.

How does a variable platy breed?

A variable platy gives birth to live young and breeds easily. Adults eat their own young, so plant the tank densely or move pregnant females out before they give birth.

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