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Bumblebee Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
📍 Aquarium-developed colour morph; wild platies originate from Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras), but the Bumblebee variety is tank-bred.
The Bumblebee Platy displays a striking yellow and black banded pattern reminiscent of a bumblebee, with alternating vertical stripes across its body and fins. Like all platies, it is peaceful, active, and social, making it an excellent community fish for beginners and experienced aquarists alike.
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Care Guide
Diet
Bumblebee Platies are omnivorous and thrive on a varied diet of high-quality flake food, micro pellets, and small frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworms. Supplement with blanched vegetables like spinach and zucchini 2-3 times weekly to support colour vibrancy and overall health.
Behavior
Bumblebee Platies are peaceful, active mid-water swimmers that spend much of their time exploring the tank. They are highly social and should be kept in small groups of at least 5, with a female-to-male ratio of 2:1 or higher to reduce male harassment and aggression during breeding.
Breeding
Bumblebee Platies are prolific livebearers that give birth to fully formed, free-swimming fry every 4-6 weeks. Fry are vulnerable to predation in community tanks; provide dense plants or a separate breeder box to protect them. They readily hybridize with other platy and swordtail colour morphs, so separate males and females if selective breeding is desired.
Tank Mates
Same species, compatible colour morph; ideal for group living
Same species, peaceful platy morph; breeds readily together
Small, peaceful schooling fish; similar water parameters
Tiny, non-aggressive; safe with platy fry if breeding
Bottom-dweller; peaceful and helps maintain tank cleanliness
Peaceful gourami; avoid aggressive males; similar temperature needs
Common Diseases
Ich (White Spot Disease)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, rubbing against objects, lethargy
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30 C (82-86 F) over 2-3 days, perform daily 25% water changes, treat with ich medication (malachite green or salt) as directed; maintain for 7-10 days
Fin Rot
Frayed, torn, or disintegrating fins; dark edges on fin margins; lethargy
Perform 50% water change immediately, improve water quality and aeration, treat with antibacterial medication (e.g., tetracycline) or salt bath; remove sharp decorations
Fungal Infection
White or grey fuzzy growth on body, fins, or mouth; loss of appetite; isolation behaviour
Increase aeration, perform 50% water change, treat with antifungal medication (e.g., methylene blue or salt); quarantine affected fish if possible; maintain pristine water conditions
Shimmies (Mineral Deficiency / Poor Water Quality)
Rapid side-to-side body movement, trembling fins, loss of colour vibrancy, lethargy
Perform 50% water change, test and adjust pH and hardness (platies prefer slightly hard water), add mineral supplements if needed, ensure adequate filtration and aeration; check for ammonia/nitrite spikes
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Quick Facts
- diet
- omnivore; flake food, micro pellets, blanched vegetables, occasional live/frozen foods
- lifespan
- 3-5 years
- max size
- 6 cm (2.4 in)
- tank size
- 10 gallons minimum
- temperament
- peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 7.0-7.8
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 10-25 dGH
- temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)