Description
Xiphophorus variatus, the variable platyfish, is a livebearer of 5 to 7 cm native to the Atlantic slope of Mexico. Compared with the common platy (X. maculatus) it is slimmer, with a more elongated body and a slightly longer dorsal fin, a trait that breeders have exaggerated into high-finned varieties.
Almost everything on sale comes from mass production in the Far East and Eastern Europe, and heavily inbred fish are not very hardy: they fall ill and die young. The wild fish, rare in the trade today, is sturdier, but it must be kept apart from domestic forms so they do not interbreed. It needs water of medium or high hardness: in soft, acidic water it does not thrive.
Behavior
Peaceful and hardy, a good fish for the community tank. The only thing that complicates cohabitation is the usual livebearer issue: males harass females relentlessly. It is best to keep more females than males, two or three per male, to spread the attention, and dense plants where they can take refuge.
It lives well with other hard-water livebearers, such as the molly and the swordtail, and with hardy corydoras and tetras that tolerate the same water.
Avoid housing it with soft, acidic water fish, which do not share its parameters, and with fin nippers, which chase the high-finned varieties.
Habitat
Xiphophorus variatus is endemic to Mexico, from southern Tamaulipas to northern Veracruz. It lives in warm springs, weedy canals and ditches, and in shallow streams, ponds and swamps densely planted with vegetation, above all where algae and phytoplankton abound.
There are introduced or feral populations in several countries, among them Costa Rica, Colombia, the United States, Hawaii, Singapore and Hong Kong, and at least one has reported an adverse ecological impact: aquarium fish must never be released.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
A livebearer and very easy to breed: broods are continual and over a hundred fry are not unusual. Gestation lasts four to seven weeks. The adults do not eat the young, although the safest course is to move the gravid female to another tank to give birth there and return her afterwards.
Breeding nets and traps are best avoided: they are too small for raising fry. The young are large at birth and accept brine shrimp nauplii or powdered flake from day one, and they grow quickly on two or three meals a day.
Diet
Omnivorous: in the wild it eats worms, crustaceans, insects, plant matter and the small animals of the bottom. It is not fussy and accepts almost anything.
- Staple: quality flakes or pellets, with some plant matter.
- Supplement: live or frozen food, such as brine shrimp and daphnia, and some vegetables.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 21–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 25–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 20–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 18–24 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 18–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 25–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 24–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7.5–8.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 20–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 15–22 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 15–24 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 21–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 22–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7 and 23–26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 18–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 18–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 20–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 18–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 18–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 18–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 18–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 18–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 18–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 15–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 15–26 °C.
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They share water: pH 7–8.2 and 18–26 °C.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Xiphophorus variatus. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-10.
Water: FishBase gives pH 7-8, 9-19 dH and 15-25 °C; Seriously Fish, pH 7-8.2, 14-30 dGH and 15-26 °C. The wider range is used: pH 7-8.2, 9-30 dGH and 15-26 °C. Size: 7.0 cm TL in FishBase and 50 mm SL in Seriously Fish. Tank: Seriously Fish asks for a 60 × 30 cm base (54 l). Gestation: 24 days in FishBase and 4 to 7 weeks in Seriously Fish; the profile says «four to seven weeks». Introduction: FishBase notes that at least one country reports an adverse ecological impact after introducing it; it is not on the Spanish Catalogue or the Union List. Name: «platy variado» is the chosen name; FishBase calls it «Variable platyfish» in English.
Litres per fish and minimum tank height and depth: the profile's own judgement. Seriously Fish gives only the tank base and FishBase gives no tank sizes.
Lifespan: the profile's own estimate; the sources consulted do not give it.
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