All fish / Poeciliidae

Pygmy platy (Xiphophorus kosszanderi)

Xiphophorus kosszanderi

Also known as kosszanderi platy, northern platy, kosszander's platy, xiphophorus kossanderi

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This is a small wild platy from northern Mexico. It has a slim silvery body, a dark lateral marking and some yellow tones, and males have no sword. Specialist livebearer keepers look after it to help preserve wild Xiphophorus lines, and it seldom turns up in shops.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

7 to 8.2

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more, with more females than males

Diet

Omnivore: flake food, small live and frozen foods such as daphnia and brine shrimp, plus algae and vegetable matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 3 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mexico: Río Salado basin (Río Bravo/Rio Grande drainage), Coahuila and Nuevo León

Breeding

It is a livebearer. Females give birth to small batches of well-formed fry every four weeks or so. Breeding is easy in a planted species-only tank, but keep the line pure and do not let it cross with other platies.

Good to know

Like all Xiphophorus it hybridises readily, so never keep it with other platies or swordtails. Its range is small and threatened, so try to get stock from documented captive-bred lines.