Is There Such A Thing As Cold Water Platy's

[OldMan47]

Xiphophorus variatus, true variatus platies, are not cold water fish, ever. The LFS often will label almost any platy as a variatus, so you cannot go by the tank labels. Almost never will you see a true species of any kind of platy in the LFS but instead what you see will be platy/swordtail crosses. X. variatus and X. helleri are among the most common ancestors of most modern pet shop platies and swordtails, yes both of them, but a true X. variatus is something I have never seen even as a wild type livebearer specialist. It just does not show up in pet shops and seldom shows up even in the specialist locations that I frequent. An endangered species of goodeid is easier for me to find.

 

[Justine]

i have never seen or heard of these before so i was just wondering if anyone else has or have some or does actually know the answer

thanks
jay

I have 4 platies in cold water setup which were sold to me 3 years ago one has even had babies

 

[Cichlid4life]

just no, but it depends on your definitio of cold, in africa cold is 64 degrees F but in Alaska, cold is -46 degrees F.

 

[fish48]

There is not such a thing as a cold water platy

The 2 most common platys are Xiphophorus variatus and Xiphophorus Maculatus

Xiphophorus Maculatus temperatures should be maintained at 70f +.

Xiphophorus variatus is more adaptable and can be maintained at low 60s may survive lower temperature short term,

If in doubt about temperature requirements all species of live- bearing fish will be suited to temperatures between 68f and 74f

 

[Cichlid4life]

the cold water platies exist as much as the salt water mollies do.

 

[fish48]

ok what type of party is it where does it come from what is the lowest temperature it can go, on what temperature do you consider it to be cold have you kept them you self ?

 

[Colin_T]

Platies originate in warm water, however over years of domestication they have developed more tolerance to cooler water. This is partly due to being hybridised with swordtails many years ago and they too can tolerate cool conditions. Through selective breeding you can have strains of cold water livebearers and in Australia we have mollies, swordtails, platies and guppies outdoors in the southern half of the country. I have seen them in water that was 4C and they were swimming around fine.

Yes they originate in warm water but have changed to over the years and many strains can tolerate cold water.

But do not put wild caught livebearers in cold water because it will kill them.

 

[Cichlid4life]

Platies originate in warm water, however over years of domestication they have developed more tolerance to cooler water. This is partly due to being hybridised with swordtails many years ago and they too can tolerate cool conditions. Through selective breeding you can have strains of cold water livebearers and in Australia we have mollies, swordtails, platies and guppies outdoors in the southern half of the country. I have seen them in water that was 4C and they were swimming around fine.

Yes they originate in warm water but have changed to over the years and many strains can tolerate cold water.

But do not put wild caught livebearers in cold water because it will kill them.

just like saltwater mollies, they have been domesticated, and when they are kept (for many generations) in a different kind of water than that found in nature, they grow accustom to it, the salt water mollies and the cold water platies have the same story.