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Freshwater fishDwarf Coral Red Wag Platy
Dwarf Coral Red Wag Platy
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Coral platies are smaller than your average livebearer and do well in small and mid-size community aquariums. The diminutive coral wag platy has a cute black tail on a bright red body.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Xiphophorus maculatus |
| Origin | Southern Mexico and Central America |
| Care Level | Easy, good for beginners |
| Temperament | Peaceful, a bit timid |
| Adult Size | Up to 1" |
| Lifespan | 3–4 years |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Water Temperature | 70–80°F |
| pH | 7.0–8.2 |
| Breeding | Livebearer – breeds easily in the aquarium |
| Shipping Size | Approx. ½" |
Care Guide
Tank setup: Platies are hardy and easy to keep. Give them a filter, a lid and plenty of plants. Use a heater to keep the water steady in the 70s. They prefer harder, slightly alkaline water.
Feeding: Feed a quality flake or small pellet once or twice a day, only as much as they eat in a couple of minutes. Platies also need some plant matter, so a vegetable flake is a good choice. They also enjoy frozen brine shrimp.
Tankmates: Platies get along with most peaceful community fish, such as other livebearers (mollies, guppies and swordtails), tetras, rasboras and corydoras. Avoid large or aggressive fish that may bully or eat them.
Breeding: Platies are livebearers, so a tank with males and females will almost certainly have babies (fry). Adults will eat fry, so add dense plants or use a breeding box if you want to raise them. Keeping more females than males gives the females a break from the males' attention.
Good to know: Dwarf platies are small and easily intimidated, so keep them with other small, gentle fish.
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