{"product_id":"blue-micky-mouse-platy-xiphophorus-maculatus","title":"Blue Micky Mouse Platy | Xiphophorus maculatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eCheerful, bombproof and available in a rainbow of colours, the Blue Mickey Mouse Platy is one of the easiest and most rewarding livebearers for a beginner. The name comes from the tell-tale 'Mickey Mouse' marking at the base of the tail. Peaceful, active and quick to breed, platies bring instant colour and movement to any community tank, reaching around 5–6 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eXiphophorus maculatus is native to the warm, hard, often slightly saline waters of eastern Mexico and Central America, from Veracruz down to Belize and Guatemala. It favours slow-moving and still waters — ditches, canals, warm springs and vegetated margins — rich in plants and gentle flow.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis variety carries a cool blue body with the black 'Mickey Mouse' spot at the tail base. Platies are stocky, rounded livebearers; males are smaller and slimmer with a rod-like gonopodium, while females are larger and fuller-bodied, especially when carrying young.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlaties are peaceful, sociable and thoroughly community-friendly. Keep them in groups, ideally with more females than males to spread out the males' constant attention. They mix happily with other easy-going community fish and rarely bother anything.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn omnivore with a healthy appetite for greens, the platy does best on a quality flake or pellet supplemented with algae, blanched vegetables and the occasional live or frozen treat such as daphnia or brine shrimp. A little vegetable matter keeps them in good colour and condition.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlaties are hardy and forgiving, thriving in hard, neutral to alkaline water. Keep temperature at 22–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.2 and moderately hard to hard water. A tank of 40 L or more suits a small group, with good filtration and regular water changes. Generally plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlaties are prolific livebearers that breed readily with no intervention — a mixed group will soon produce batches of live fry every four to six weeks. Provide dense planting or floating cover so some fry can escape being eaten, or move a gravid female to a breeding setup.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXiphophorus maculatus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouthern Platy (Blue Mickey Mouse)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEastern Mexico and Central America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 5–6 cm (females larger)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–4 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (community)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e60 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore: flake, pellet, algae and vegetable matter, live and frozen treats\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.0–8.2\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerately hard to hard, around 10–25 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner community tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other peaceful community fish such as guppies, mollies, swordtails, corydoras, small tetras, rasboras and peaceful gouramis.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with large or aggressive cichlids, fin-nippers and any fish big enough to eat them. Very soft, acidic water does not suit them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232790364451,"sku":"BA9053","price":9.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232790397219,"sku":null,"price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Blue_Micky_Mouse_Platy_3a4f42bd-1d29-4a81-afd1-6dbfdf924b55.jpg?v=1781697983","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/blue-micky-mouse-platy-xiphophorus-maculatus","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}