Dwarf Red Coral Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) - Tank-Bred!

* For the safety of our animals, we now ship live fish exclusively via UPS Next Day Air.  If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout *

The Dwarf Red Coral Platy is a vibrant, compact livebearer that packs stunning color into a small size. Unlike standard platies, this tank-bred variety has been selectively bred for a smaller body and intense red-orange hue, making it ideal for nano tanks or peaceful community setups. Hardy, active, and beginner-friendly, Dwarf Red Coral Platies are easy to care for and add constant motion and brilliance to any aquarium.

What We Love About This Fish:

• Brilliant Coral Red Color: Their eye-catching red hue stands out beautifully in planted tanks.
• Smaller Size: More compact than standard platies—perfect for nano tanks.
• Peaceful and Social: Gets along well with other peaceful fish and invertebrates.
• Easy to Breed: A great choice for hobbyists interested in livebearer reproduction.

Natural Habitat:

While originally derived from populations in Central America, the Dwarf Red Coral Platy is a selectively bred aquarium strain. In nature, platies are found in slow-moving rivers, canals, and warm streams with dense aquatic vegetation and soft to moderate flow.

Aquascaping:

• Plants: Floating and stem plants like Hornwort, Water Sprite, and Amazon Swords provide cover and breeding spaces.
• Hardscape: Smooth stones, driftwood, and open swimming areas keep them active and comfortable.
• Botanicals: Though not essential, botanicals like Indian Almond Leaves and alder cones can enhance the tank’s natural feel and support water quality. We recommend the Aquatic Arts Botanical Combo Pack to round out a peaceful, shrimp-safe aquascape.

Diet and Feeding:

These omnivores aren’t picky and do best with a variety of high-quality prepared foods.

✅ Recommended Food:
• Ultra Royal Guppy Mignon Pellets – Shrimp Delight Formula – Soft, slow-sinking pellets made with real shrimp and ideal for small livebearers like platies. Supports color and immune health.
• High-Quality Flakes and Veggie-Based Pellets – Spirulina and algae-based foods help maintain vibrancy.

✅ Supplemental Treats:
Blanched vegetables, freeze-dried daphnia, or baby brine shrimp.

Tank Mates and Compatibility:

Very peaceful and perfect for community aquariums. Compatible with tetras, rasboras, small gouramis, cory catfish, snails, and dwarf shrimp. Males can occasionally chase females, so maintaining a group with a 1:2 male-to-female ratio is ideal.

Shrimp Safe:

Yes – adult platies generally coexist peacefully with shrimp. Baby shrimp may be at risk if not provided with enough cover.

Breeding:

Dwarf Red Coral Platies are livebearers and will breed readily in the aquarium. Females give birth to free-swimming fry about once a month. To raise fry successfully, provide fine-leaved plants or a breeding box for shelter.

Recommended Tank Parameters:

• Temperature: 70° – 78° F (21° – 26° C)
• pH: 6.8 – 8.0
• KH: 6 – 12 dKH
• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons

Care Guidelines:

• Diet: Omnivorous. Enjoys a varied diet of pellets, flakes, and veggie-based foods.
• Social Behavior: Peaceful and active. Keep in small groups.
• Origin: Tank Bred
• Average Adult Size: 1.25 – 1.5 inches (3.2 – 3.8 cm)
• Average Purchase Size: 0.75 – 1.25 inches (2 – 3.2 cm)

Tiny, Colorful, and Full of Life
The Dwarf Red Coral Platy is the perfect choice for aquarists who want all the charm and activity of a livebearer in a smaller, more manageable size. Whether you're starting a nano tank or adding to a peaceful community setup, these platies shine.