What kind of fish do I have?

[dixaisy930]

Three weeks ago, I bought what I thought was a platy. It was in a tank near all of the other playts. I thought it was a sunset platy, but just saw a picture of one, and it looks nothing like it. It was some kind of "sunset" fish. The second part of the name started with a "v". It's more streamline like a guppie, and the coloring is half gold, and half bright reddish orange.

 

[StiX]

Does it have the same body shape as a platy ? as there are many many different colour platys avalible. If u could get a picture up we could tell u for sure

 

[dixaisy930]

Well, it actually has more of a guppy shape of body. It's a longer, more streamline body, instead of a more round body of a platy.

 

[William]

I'd say its a hybrid - variatus platy ? Just means mixture

 

[dixaisy930]

Yep, that sounds familiar. Thanks! Can they breed with "regular" platys? I'm pretty sure he's a male. I have one red platy female, and a blue-silver female in the tank with him.

 

[William]

Yes you may get some interesting colour morph offspring too

 

[dixaisy930]

Is it less likely that the sunset platy will mate with my other two platys, than if I had one of his own kind in there?

I think I picked the only three platys that have no desire to breed. The male has been in the tank with one of the females for almost 4 weeks now, and she's not pregnant. He's been in with the other one for over a week, and nothing from her either. Oh well...I should be thankful I won't be over run with fry.

 

[William]

Is it less likely that the sunset platy will mate with my other two platys, than if I had one of his own kind in there?

I think I picked the only three platys that have no desire to breed. The male has been in the tank with one of the females for almost 4 weeks now, and she's not pregnant. He's been in with the other one for over a week, and nothing from her either. Oh well...I should be thankful I won't be over run with fry.

Nope, he should breed with any of them pretty readily makes no difference what they look like (he's not to fussy ) Sometimes there are infertile platies, you may want to try buying a male and a female from a different fish store and adding them in, this should also stop inbreeding I'm sure you'll have some babies soon

 

[dixaisy930]

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm already at my tanks limit (3 platies, 1 dwarf puffer, and three cories in a ten gallon). I was thinking about getting another male, or a female I knew was already pregnant, but I'm sure my tank couldn't handle it. I've never noticed courting behavior from him either...just my luck...I probably picked an infertile one.