{"product_id":"red-tuxedo-platy-xiphophorus-maculatus","title":"Red Tuxedo Platy | Xiphophorus maculatus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eCheerful, hardy and endlessly colourful, the Platy is the ultimate beginner livebearer. The Red Tuxedo form pairs a bright red body with a bold black \"tuxedo\" rear. Peaceful, active and quick to breed, these little fish reach around 4–6 cm and bring instant colour and movement to any community tank.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eXiphophorus maculatus originates in the warm, slow-moving rivers, ditches and warm springs of eastern Central America, from Mexico to Belize and Guatemala. It lives in vegetated, hard, slightly alkaline water, and today's aquarium platies are hardy tank-bred fish selectively developed for colour.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA small, chunky-bodied livebearer. The Red Tuxedo displays a solid red body with a contrasting black lower rear half. Males are smaller and slimmer with a modified anal fin (the gonopodium), while females are rounder and grow slightly larger.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeaceful, sociable and always busy, platies make excellent community fish. Keep a small group, ideally with more females than males to spread male attention. They mix beautifully with other peaceful community fish of similar size and temperament.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn easy-going omnivore. Feed a quality flake or small granule as the staple and supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm, plus some vegetable or algae-based food to keep colour and digestion in good order.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 45 L, with 75 L or larger better for a relaxed group. Keep temperature at 22–26 °C, pH 7.0–8.2 and GH moderately hard to hard, around 10–25. They appreciate clean, well-filtered water with some planting and open swimming space, and are fully plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlaties are prolific livebearers that breed with almost no encouragement, the female giving birth to broods of live young every four to six weeks. Adults will eat their own fry, so provide dense planting or a breeding trap if you want to raise them. A mixed-sex group will quickly produce babies.\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\u003ePlaty, Red Tuxedo Platy, Southern Platyfish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCentral America (Mexico to Guatemala); aquarium-bred\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 4–6 cm (females slightly larger)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–4 years with good care\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\u003e45 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore: flake, granules, frozen and live foods, some vegetable matter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–26 °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\u003ePeaceful community aquariums\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 mollies, swordtails, guppies, small tetras, rasboras, peaceful barbs, Corydoras and other gentle catfish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with large or aggressive cichlids, fin-nippers, and boisterous fish that will out-compete or harass these small, gentle livebearers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232791871779,"sku":"BA8201","price":8.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232791904547,"sku":null,"price":13.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Red_Tuxedo_Platy_f2eba0bd-6148-41b2-9fca-e16e602c83c7.jpg?v=1781697987","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/red-tuxedo-platy-xiphophorus-maculatus","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}