Assorted Platy Fish Xiphophorus Maculatus 3cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Platy is a small, colourful livebearer bred in a huge range of colours and patterns from a plain wild fish, supplied here as a mixed selection. Stocky, active and endlessly cheerful, it spends the day cruising the middle of the tank. Native to the Atlantic slope of Mexico and Central America, it is one of the best choices for beginners and community tanks.
- Sold as: Pack of 6 (minimum order quantity)
- Adult Size: Around 5–6 cm (2–2.5 in); females larger than males
- Lifespan: 3–4 years
Origin
- Native to: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras; Atlantic coastal plain
- Habitat: Warm, slow, weedy streams, ditches and ponds
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, with a strong appetite for algae
- Preferred Foods: Quality flake, micro pellets, spirulina, daphnia, brine shrimp, blanched vegetables
- Feeding Habits: Small feeds once or twice daily; include vegetable matter regularly; unfussy eater
Tank Mates
- Best with: Tetras, rasboras, corydoras, mollies, swordtails, guppies, small peaceful gouramis, snails
- Avoid: Large predators, fin-nippers, aggressive cichlids, cold-water fish
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Very peaceful; ideal community fish
- Territoriality: None; males chase each other and females harmlessly
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Challenges: Constant fry production; some commercially bred stock less hardy than wild fish
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, hard and alkaline
- Temperature: 20–26°C (68–79°F)
- pH: 7.0–8.2
- Hardness: 10–30 dGH
- Flow: Slow to moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 60 litres for a group of six; larger is better
Final Notes
Platies breed constantly, so keep two or three females per male or expect broods of up to 80 fry every four to six weeks; adults eat some fry but many survive in dense plants. Males are identified by the rod-like gonopodium, females by a fan-shaped anal fin. They dislike soft, acidic water and do best in hard, well-planted tanks with open swimming room. Hardy, friendly and ideal for a first aquarium.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.