Care
Easy to keep - an ideal choice for the beginner. 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. 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. In the wild, this species is found in heavily vegetated ditches, canals, and springs, so plant cover in the aquarium will be very much appreciated.
Variatus Platies are available in a few domesticated colours and strains, with wild fishes being significantly different to those seen in aquaria. The Hawaii form carries extensive areas of black and this trait can be seen in some naturally occuring geographical races of Variatus. Other colourful aquarium strains are the result of hybridisation with other Xiphophorus species and less tolerant of lower temperatures as a result. These are often deeper-bodied, a trait inherited from maculatus platies.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Feed a good quality flake food, small frozen foods such as mosquito larvae and daphnia, and keep with fast-growing plants which the fish will browse on, mostly consuming algae and biofilm.
Breeding
Very easy. Variatus are livebearers, which means that the females give birth to live young. After fertilisation occurs, the female gestates for around 30 days or so, after which time she will give birth to between 20 and 100 free-swimming fry. Females store sperm and one mating will give rise to multiple broods. The adults (and other fish species in the aquarium) will predate on the fry if not separated. However, a few will normally manage to survive onto adulthood when kept in a well planted aquarium with lots of natural hiding places. Keeping these fish at cooler temperatures will slow their breeding and give the females a seasonal rest.
