platy in cool water tank

B

Butters Skotch

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Oct 14, 2008
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I was just wondering if it would be possible to put a platy into a cool water tank. The tank stays around 66-68F. Thanks!
 
Platies like more of the tropical temperatures like 78-80F
 
Platies will be a bit lethargic at 68F. If your cool water fish can do 72F or more, they can live together. The platy will still be a bit slow but can do fine at that temperature. They do not need the high temperatures where they are often kept. Mine usually live at about 75F because I find it suits them well and some of the cories they live with can't take much more.
 
People sometimes forget that platies are from Central America, and cannot exactly be considered tropical fish. According to fishbase, the mid to high 70s are actually at the top of their temperature preferences, and average low temps are actually in the mid 60s (lower for variatus). A tank that averages in the high 60s could work, but expect growth to be very slow, and fry drops to be on the small side. One bonus of raising them at such low temps however, are that you can expect them to live a lot longer than they would at higher temps.

http://www.fishbase.com/Summary/spe...2&genusname=Xiphophorus&speciesname=maculatus

http://www.fishbase.com/Summary/spe...33&genusname=Xiphophorus&speciesname=variatus
 
I did keep them at 72 for years without any problem and lots of breeding. My fry raising tank for Platies were also set at that temperature and I didn't really see any abnormal behaviors or issues. I think 72 is safe for these guys. Never tried any species at 68 though.
 
You'd be better using X. variatus at the lower temperature ranges. They're the slimmer bodied ones, but don't get confused by the large numbers of swordtail hybrids which are around and look superficially like X. variatus.
 
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