All fish / Poeciliidae

Northern platyfish

Xiphophorus gordoni

Also known as cuatro cienegas platyfish, cuatro cienegas platy, gordon's platyfish, northern platy, gordoni platy

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A small, wild-type platy with an olive to silvery body, a row of dark spots or blotches along the flank and fairly plain fins. It comes from a handful of warm, mineral-rich spring pools in the Cuatro Ciénegas desert basin, and is kept mainly by livebearer enthusiasts and conservation breeding groups rather than the general hobby.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

3.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 30 °C

pH

7 to 8.2

Smallest tank

54 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more, with more females than males

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworm, plus algae and quality flake

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 3 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mexico: Cuatro Ciénegas basin, Coahuila (Río Grande drainage)

Breeding

A livebearer: females give birth to small batches of fully formed fry every few weeks after internal fertilisation. It breeds readily in a well planted tank with hard, alkaline water, though wild-type stocks need careful management to avoid inbreeding.

Good to know

Listed as Endangered by the IUCN and protected in Mexico, so only captive-bred fish from responsible sources should be kept. Keep the line pure and do not mix it with common platies or other Xiphophorus, which hybridise freely.