Platy Fish

Xiphophorus maculatus

The platy fish (Xiphophorus maculatus), also known as the southern platyfish, is a small freshwater livebearer in the family Poeciliidae. Adults reach about 6 cm with a deep, laterally compressed body. Wild-type fish display variable coloration from olive to grey with a dark lateral spot, though captive-bred varieties come in virtually every color. This species is native to freshwater and brackish habitats at depths of 0-2 meters in Central America from southern Mexico to Belize and Guatemala. Platy fish inhabit warm, slow-moving or still waters with abundant vegetation, including ditches, canals, springs, and river backwaters. They are omnivorous, feeding on algae, aquatic invertebrates, and detritus. As livebearers, females give birth to free-swimming young without laying eggs. Established feral populations exist in many tropical regions worldwide due to aquarium releases. They are commonly encountered during freshwater dives in Florida and other warm-water destinations.