Platies, like most other livebearers, are members of the Poeciliidae family and are found in Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. These hardy and colorful fish make a wonderful addition to the passive community aquarium. Platies are easy to breed, and new color varieties are developed through selective breeding programs. The fry are born fully developed, and can be raised easily in a separate aquarium or net breeder inside the tank. Male Platies are more slender than their female counterparts, and have a pointed anal fin on the bottom, closest to the tail. The females are more rounded, with a rounded anal fin. To reduce aggression among them, it is ideal to maintain a small school of 5 or more fish in the aquarium. Platies stay small, under 2-1/2 inches in length, and will add interest and color to the small community aquarium. Platies make a perfect addition to the aquarium for the novice to expert alike.
