I’m thinking they have some Xiphophorus Variatus in them. What do you think? They are cold water, outside tank, produce bland babies.
ID for cold water Livebearers
- Thread starter I Like Rare Fish
- Start date
hmmmm i think so
do any store platies work outside?
do any store platies work outside?
OP
OP
I bought these as dithers for other fish. I bet any platy could be converted to a cold water fish overtime.
it's not uncommon to keep platys in an outdoor pond.
OP
OP
Very common. Most pond stores will have 100s of plates, just not the bright ones everybody is used to.
Speaking of livebearers
Our FOTM which begins accepting entries on February 12th will feature livebearers.
Our FOTM which begins accepting entries on February 12th will feature livebearers.
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This specimen is a Xiphophorus variatus. Mind that there are variatus platies with a more pointy nose and a rounder nose. That's what the Xiphophorus variartus species are known for besides the different pattern or markings in the wild.
I also like to put out here, that there are way more wild platy species besides Xiphophorus maculatus and Xiphophorus variatus in the wild. And what's also important to know, is that although platies occur in tropical countries (Central- and South-America), a serious number of them live in colder water. For there are subzones that are subtropical instead of tropical within a tropical country. Also altitude is in play when it comes to lower water temperatures. Those platies that occur in subtropical areas, shouldn't be kept in warmer water. For they will die at some point because of this.
For a lot of people make the mistake to label all platies (and more livebearers eg. swordtails) as being tropical fish. You just need to know from what area they are to determine them as being tropical or subtropical.
I also keep platies outdoors during the better months of the year. And I always harvest them in fall when the water temperatures are between 10-15°C.
Most livebearers can be kept outdoors during the better months, btw. When we just look at the common commercial livebearers such as guppies, swordtails, mollies and platies, they all can be kept outdoors. Just note that long finned guppies are a weaker than short finned guppies, when keeping outdoors. Long finned guppies will do fine starting from 17°C water temperature and up. Short finned guppies will still do fine at 12°C and up. But for all these livebearers goes that you need to adapt them slowly to such temperatures first before keeping them at lower temperatures of course. And if you'll harvest them in fall, these fish and their offspring are much stronger than their relatives that are kept indoors. Keeping livebearers and other aquarium fish outdoors during a number of months, is something that I've done ever since halfway the 1980's.
OP
OP
@emeraldking, the babies they make look like flathead minnows. They have that head shape and darken as they grow up. But they don't look anything like their parents. Why is that?
Could you make some pics of them, to have a better look at them?
OP
OP
Here is one. They scurry out of the way really fast. I’ll try for some better ones later.
They look normal to me. That they may have different colors and/or different markings, has got to do with the genetics of both parents. If at least one parent has got mixed blood, the offspring may look different than their parents. For other traits where they carry the gene for, comes to expression.
But I also like to note that all Xiphophorus variatus members can differ in phenotype. The name already states this.
awww
looks like a gourami
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