PLATY RED TIGER 3.5

Red Tiger Platy is a selectively bred colour strain of the southern platy (Xiphophorus maculatus), not a separate species. Care is the same as other platies: hardy livebearer, peaceful, and easy — with two practical catches: they want mineral-rich water, and they breed constantly.

The typical look is a pale cream, white-pink, or light orange body with bold vertical orange-to-reddish-orange bars. Keep them in groups of at least 5–6, with more females than males. A longer tank is better because they are active mid-to-top swimmers. Platies come from hard, alkaline Central American water. They tolerate a range, but they do poorly long-term in very soft, mineral-poor water. Keep them in a group. Males will chase females; a 1 male: 2–3 females ratio (or an all-male group) reduces harassment.

TANK SET UP: They require a mature and cycled filter. Dense plants (hornwort, elodea, java fern, crypts, floating plants) for cover and fry refuge. Live plants are plant-safe with platies. Darker substrate tends to show the stripe pattern better.

TANK MATE: Other livebearers (guppies, mollies, swordtails — watch hybridisation if you care about strain), rainbowfish of similar size, peaceful tetras/rasboras/danios that accept harder water, corydoras, bristlenose, otos, nerites.

NOTE: They hybridise readily with other Xiphophorus (swordtails especially).

FILTRATION: Gentle to moderate flow.

MAINTENANCE: Keep ammonia and nitrite at 0. Aim for nitrate under 20–40 ppm with weekly 20–30% water changes.

IMPORTANT: Test GH after changes rather than guessing— 10–25 dGH (they need minerals)

FEEDING: Colour holds better with spirulina and varied food.

Rotate:

• Quality flake or small pellets (include a spirulina/colour formula)

• Frozen or live: brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworm (not every meal)

• Blanched veg: zucchini, cucumber, spinach, peas

• Occasional algae wafers

Feed 2 times a day and fast a day.