{"product_id":"tricolour-hifin-platy-xiphophorus-maculatus","title":"Tricolour Hifin Platy - Xiphophorus maculatus","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTricolour Hi-Fin Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Tricolour Hi-Fin Platy is a bright and attractive captive-bred form of the Common Platy, loved for its mix of red, orange, yellow, black and contrasting patterned markings. This variety also has an extended high dorsal fin, giving it extra shape and display compared with standard platies. Peaceful, active and hardy, it is an excellent choice for beginner-friendly freshwater community aquariums with clean, stable, moderately hard to hard water.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTricolour Hi-Fin Platy. Also commonly referred to as Tricolour Hifin Platy, Tri Colour Hi-Fin Platy, Hi-Fin Platy, Southern Platyfish or Common Platy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name (Latin):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eXiphophorus maculatus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaximum Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAround 5–6 cm in captivity, with females usually becoming slightly larger and fuller-bodied than males.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin \/ Natural Habitat:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Tricolour Hi-Fin Platy is a captive-bred aquarium strain. The wild form of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eXiphophorus maculatus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is native to North and Central America, from Mexico through to Belize. In the wild, it occurs in warm springs, canals, ditches, creeks and swampy waters, usually in slow-moving areas with silty bottoms and weedy margins.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Parameters:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTemperature: 22–26°C\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003epH Range: 7.0–8.2\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHardness: moderately hard to hard water preferred\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeaceful and active. It is suitable for community aquariums with other calm, similarly sized fish. Males may chase females, especially in smaller groups, so mixed-sex groups are best kept with more females than males.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOmnivorous. It should be offered a varied diet including quality flake, small pellets, algae-based foods, spirulina, blanched vegetables and frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brineshrimp and bloodworm. Vegetable matter is useful for long-term health, colour and digestion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum Tank Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA practical recommendation is at least 60 litres for a small group, with larger aquariums preferred if keeping multiple livebearers or allowing fry to grow on.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBehaviour \u0026amp; Activity:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an active mid-level livebearer that spends much of the day swimming, grazing and exploring the aquarium. It is not a tight shoaling fish, but it does best in small groups. Females give birth to free-swimming fry, so numbers can increase quickly in a mixed-sex group. Floating plants, fine-leaved plants and planted cover can help provide shelter for fry while still leaving open swimming space for adults.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAquarium Category:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eCommunity Fish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis species is peaceful and works well with other freshwater community fish that enjoy similar harder, alkaline water conditions. Suitable tank mates include other platies, mollies, swordtails, peaceful rainbowfish, danios, small barbs, Corydoras suited to similar conditions and bristlenose plecos. Avoid aggressive fish, persistent fin nippers, large predators and very soft-water species that prefer acidic conditions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial Requirements or Care Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBest kept in clean, stable water with good filtration, regular maintenance and enough minerals to support livebearer health. Platies generally do best in harder, more alkaline water and can struggle long-term in very soft acidic aquariums. Because this is a hi-fin strain, avoid fin-nipping tank mates and sharp décor that could damage the extended dorsal fin. If keeping males and females together, a ratio of one male to two or more females can help reduce constant attention on individual females.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeginner fishkeepers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCommon \/ occasional in trade, usually as captive-bred stock\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAll images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns and colours will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aqua Group","offers":[{"title":"Small","offer_id":46076801024173,"sku":"AG-103352","price":2.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium","offer_id":46076801056941,"sku":"AG-103353","price":3.45,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large","offer_id":46076801089709,"sku":"AG-103354","price":3.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0543\/0391\/6205\/files\/TricolourHifinPlaty-Xiphophorusmaculatus.jpg?v=1780403838","url":"https:\/\/aquagroup.co.uk\/products\/tricolour-hifin-platy-xiphophorus-maculatus","provider":"Aqua Group","version":"1.0","type":"link"}