{"product_id":"painted-platy-xiphophorus-maculatus","title":"Painted Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus)","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePainted Platy (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eXiphophorus maculatus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePainted Platies are a colorful and hardy livebearer that make an excellent choice for community aquariums. They are active, peaceful, easy to care for, and available in a wide range of colors and patterns. Painted Platies are a great option for hobbyists who want a bright, lively fish that stays relatively small and does well in planted and community setups. Most platies grow to around \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2–3 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with females usually a little fuller-bodied than males. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt Legacy Line Aquatics, these fish are raised in a small-scale, care-first setup. My focus is on healthy fish, clean systems, proper nutrition, and attentive day-to-day care, so you receive fish I’d be confident keeping in my own fish room.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy Hobbyists Love Painted Platies\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBright, eye-catching color and pattern\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeaceful temperament that works well in community aquariums\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHardy and beginner-friendly\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eActive fish that stay visible and add movement to the tank\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEasy to keep and readily breed in the right setup \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTemperament \u0026amp; Behavior\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePainted Platies are peaceful community fish with active, social behavior. They are best kept in groups, and like other livebearers, males can be persistent with females. A good ratio is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003emore females than males\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and many keepers aim for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eat least two females per male\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to reduce harassment. They do well in planted aquariums with open swimming space and stable water conditions. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey do best in tanks with:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStable water quality and temperature\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLive plants and cover\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOpen swimming space\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGentle to moderate flow\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHarder, more alkaline water rather than soft acidic water \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTank Size (Recommended)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eSmall group: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10 gallons minimum\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eBetter long-term setup: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e15–20 gallons+\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eLarger community groups: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e20 gallons+ preferred\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlaties can live in a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10- to 20-gallon aquarium or larger\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and a starting group of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3–6 fish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is commonly recommended. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIdeal range: 72–78°F\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStable temperature matters more than chasing an exact number \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTank Mates (Good Choices)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBest tank mates are other peaceful community fish of similar size and temperament.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGood tank mates may include:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCorydoras\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSmall peaceful tetras and rasboras\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBristlenose plecos\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRainbowfish in properly sized aquariums\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOther peaceful livebearers, with some care taken about crossbreeding and stocking balance \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAvoid:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHighly aggressive fish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFin-nippers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLarge predatory fish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVery cramped setups with too many males \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeeding\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePainted Platies are omnivores and are not difficult to feed. They do best on a varied diet that includes quality prepared foods along with supplemental frozen foods and vegetable matter. Reliable care sheets list foods such as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eflakes, granules, pellets, algae wafers, and frozen foods\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and note that they will also browse algae and biofilm. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecommended foods:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHigh-quality flakes and small pellets\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrozen foods such as daphnia or other small frozen foods\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlgae wafers occasionally\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVegetable-based foods as part of a varied diet \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat You’re Getting from Legacy Line Aquatics\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen you purchase from me, you’re getting fish raised in a small-scale setup where care and condition matter. I focus on:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFish health\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClean systems\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProper feeding, mixture of high-quality flakes, pellets, frozen foods, and other appropriate foods\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCareful day-to-day observation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStrong overall condition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat matters, especially with livebearers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocal Delivery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDelivery is available within an 80-mile maximum distance from Owensboro, Kentucky.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e$150 minimum order is required for delivery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e$25 delivery fee applies\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocal Meet-Up\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocal meet-up is available.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter order we will contact you by email, or through Facebook or Instagram Messenger.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe will arrange a date, time, and public location to meet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShipping \u0026amp; Live Arrival\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLive fish are shipped Monday–Wednesday (weather permitting) to reduce transit risk. Please review our How Shipping Works page and DOA policy before ordering.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Legacy Line Aquatics LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47863357112494,"sku":null,"price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0738\/5661\/4574\/files\/C4F03BA4-0045-4957-82B7-27102E9BB08A.jpg?v=1778952191","url":"https:\/\/legacylineaquatics.com\/products\/painted-platy-xiphophorus-maculatus","provider":"Legacy Line Aquatics LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}