Blue Butterfly Moon Platy 3.5cm

Blue Butterfly Moon Platy

The greatest thing with fish like Platies is that there always seems to be a new colour variation coming out. This is simply because they are so easy to breed, and aquarists can easily experiment with colour genetics and produce new and wild colour strains never seen before. It's almost exciting to see what new colour strain is available, and one of these beloved entries is the blue butterfly moon platy.

These blue butterfly moon platies are a lovely, subtly coloured strain. Starting with a very light blue around the face, transitioning to yellow in the mid-body section, and ending with orange at the tail, this fish looks like a water colour painting. There are some very faint, darker blue patches towards the tail and ventral fin as well for that added contrast. Unlike other livebearers like guppies, where the males tend to be far more colourful than females, Platies share their fantastic colour in both males and females. Because of this, it makes they are extremely desirable in a display-style aquarium.

Platies are great because they only get to around 6-7 cm (3 inches) from head to tail. They are also a super peaceful fish, meaning they can be kept with other aquarium fish, but also in large shoals of other coloured Platies, making a phenomenal rainbow platy aquarium. Breeding them is also a breeze; there isn't really much interference required to get these fish to breed because it's bound to happen. Males can be distinguished by their gonoponium, which is like a pointed ventral fin. The wild habitat of the natural platypus is widespread from Central America to Mexico.

Tank Recommendations for your Blue Butterfly Moon Platy

Being a very small and easy to care for fish, the blue butterfly moon platy can be kept in nano aquariums with a minimum being a 57 litre aquarium. Platies would do perfectly fine in either a tall or long tan,k which makes them super versatile. A sand or gravel substrate would be fine for these fish, as well as a lot of plant growth, which not only makes them contrast really well but also makes for handy locations where fry can grow out.

Another amazing tank option for these Platies specifically is a minimal scape aquarium with a dark black background where pastel colours will really pop. Platies however, are in fact considered to be a 'hard water fish meaning they prefer the water to have an elevated PH and are not like a tetra. This higher PH of 7 - 8 can be achieved with a PH buffer or African cichlid lake conditioning salts.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The blue butterfly moon platy is a very peaceful aquarium fish. They are great with a wide range of nano aquarium fish; however, because of their bright and flashy fins, certain fin-nipping species would be avoided. The other factor is that Platies are a fish that needs a higher PH, so keeping them with South American tetras may not be very suitable as these lower PH.

Usually Compatible

Pseudomogil species such as fork-tail rainbows, blue eyes, ricefish, and nano aquarium fish can tolerate hard water conditions.

Sometimes Compatible

Medium growing or possibly fin-nipping species. Bettas should also be avoided because of their similar flashy nature to platies, which could lead to aggression from the bettas' end.

Rarely Compatible

Large and aggressive species that would prey on the guppies, such as oscars or jaguar cichlids.

Feeding your Blue Butterfly Moon Platy

The blue butterfly moon platy is very easy to feed once it is settled into the aquarium. It will readily eat a wide range of foods but would prefer to have a high floating nano pellet or flake due to its top-dwelling behaviour.