Anybody know of a place I can get wild type platies? The little green-speckled ones... no red, no orange, no tuxedos, no Mickey Mouse heads, just pure wild-type X. maculatus
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Wild-type platies
- Thread starter mome rath
- Start date
hmmm...to be honest, I havent seen these fish in a while now. I will look for them and if I find a reasonable breeder I'll get back to you. 
Thanks, I've had interest in these for quite some time now, but I've never seen any except for a picture in the Axelrod Atlas.
Feel free to email or PM me with any info.
Feel free to email or PM me with any info.
You know...after surfing a few sites & search engines, and going back to read your post it would seem that 'Xiphophorus Maculatus' is the general scientific name to go by when talking about platies in general. I dont think X. Maculatus is an actual platy specie. Also, I have heard of the platy you are talking about and I vaguely recall there being a specific name for that fish specie...I dont think its a wild one. 
Here a few breeders that I know of which sell platies...besides the obvious ones out there:
http://www.ppaquarium.com/pricelist.asp
http://www.warin.netfirms.com/stocklist.htm
Here a few breeders that I know of which sell platies...besides the obvious ones out there:
http://www.ppaquarium.com/pricelist.asp
http://www.warin.netfirms.com/stocklist.htm
Well, here's how I understand it. There is the "platy," which is Xiphophorus maculatus and the "variatus platy," which is Xiphophorus variatus, which are fairly easily to distinguish morphologically. So I'm not so sure that the tank-raised specimens are a different taxa than the wild-types...
But it looks like I'll have to go to Belize or Mexico or wherever they're from and catch a few myself
But it looks like I'll have to go to Belize or Mexico or wherever they're from and catch a few myself
Well I'm not sure any sold now a days are "naturally" colored, raised, etc. Like you said, you'd probably have to catch them yourself. 
But they do sell natural looking platies out there...or should I say, platies with less coloring/markings. Just have to look harder.
But they do sell natural looking platies out there...or should I say, platies with less coloring/markings. Just have to look harder.
mome Rath,
Just curious, have you tried Byerly's in Grandview, they get a lot of wild fish in and may be able to help you. Right now it is one of only 3 lfs's in Columbus I would reccomend. They wil be the most likely place to know what you are talking about, and if it can be had they may find it for you. If not good luck in Belize, Don't drink the water.
Just curious, have you tried Byerly's in Grandview, they get a lot of wild fish in and may be able to help you. Right now it is one of only 3 lfs's in Columbus I would reccomend. They wil be the most likely place to know what you are talking about, and if it can be had they may find it for you. If not good luck in Belize, Don't drink the water.