THE PLATYS AND THE SWORD TAILS:
Platys and swordtails have lagged behind guppies in popularity, though they are certainly among the most colorful viviparous and about as easy to breed as guppies.
Perhaps it is because they are larger than guppies, especially the swordtails, which are quite large.
There are two species of platy that are regularly sold to hobbyists: the common platy.
Xiphophorus maculatus, the varied platy , Xi phophorus variatus.
The common swordtail is called Xiphophorus helleri.
Both platys have been extensively hybridized with each other and with the swordtails, resulting in much confusion regarding species identification.
Some experts adamantly state that there are no pure lineages of swordtails or platys being bred commercially at this time.
Even the distinction between platys as a group and swordtails as a separate group is now risky.
Platys and Swordtails are very easy to breed and maintain and are generally considered beginner fish.
Their extreme variability, combined with their brilliant colors, earn them the respect of all hobbyists, beginners and specialists alike.
The list of swordtail and platy species, currently numbering 18 nominal species, includes:
- Xiphophorus alvarezi.
- Andersi.
- Clemenciae.
- Cortezi.
- Couchianus.
- Evelynae.
- Gordony.
- Helleri.
- Kosszanderi.
- Maculatus.
- Milleri.
- Montezumae.
- Nigrensis.
- Pygmaeus.
- Roseni.
- sign.
- variations.
- Xiphidium.
Of these 18, we have that 7 are usually called platys:
- Couchianus.
- Gordony.
- variations.
- Evelynae.
- Milleri.
- Roseni.
- Maculatus.
The other 11 are swordtails, although several of them look more like short-tailed platies than typical aquarium swordtails.
All numbers and names are subject to change as new studies are developed.
DR. Axelrod: Mini Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes, European Hispanic, 1992, p. 479.
