Variatus Platy 4cm

Hi, You are correct that variatus has often been hybridized with maculatus (normal/common platy). To some degree you can tell variatus from maculatus by colour (male variatus are much more colourful than females), and by shape (pointy face in variatus). However, considering the two platies and also swordtails have been getting selectively bred and occasionally hybridised for almost a century, we have no way of knowing how pure any variatus that are sold in the aquarium trade. In the past we used to import wild strains of variatus, but customers found them very boring to look at and sadly they disappeared from the Australian hobby. If you want to email us, and if we get hold of any, we can let you know.