Hawaiian Variatus Platy 3.5cm

Hawaiian Variatus Platy

Quite easily one of the most recognizable and loved platy strains is the Hawaiian variatus platy. In general, these fish are incredibly popular aquarium fish worldwide due to their fantastic colours, amazing personality, and the fact that they are super easy to keep in the home aquarium! Through the years of selective breeding and enhancing desirable traits in platies hundreds of colour variations have been made. The Hawaiian variates platy is so incredibly popular for its contrasting colours and flashy nature. They have a bright yellow colour through the face and trim on their body with a jet-black patch from their eye to tail which also has a jade green sheen.

The yellow trim transitions to the fiery orange near the tail and when these fish are kept in a decent group it is a true spectacle in the aquarium! The other great benefit to platies is that unlike other livebearers like guppies where the males tend to be far more colourful than females, these fish share their fantastic colour in both males and females. Because of this, it makes them 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 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. The wild habitat of the natural guppy is widespread from Central America to Mexico.

Tank Recommendations for your Hawaiian Variatus Platy

Being a very small and easy to care for fish the Hawaiian Variatus platy can be kept in nano aquariums with the minimum being a 57-liter aquarium (20 gallons) and more length is always appreciated for these fish. A sand or gravel substrate would be fine as well as a lot of plant growth which not only makes the black contrast really well but also makes for handy locations where platy fry can grow if they are kept with females. Another amazing tank option for these platies specifically is a minimal scape aquarium with a dark black background where the yellow and orange will really pop in colour. 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 Hawaiian Variatus 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 should be avoided. The other factor is that platies are fish that needs 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 betta's end. 

Rarely Compatible

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

Feeding your Black Platy

The Hawaiian variatus 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 high a floating nano pellet or flake due to its top-dwelling behavior. Giving them a nutritional food with good protein and varied ingredients can result in the colours being further enhanced.  Feeding should happen once during the day during lighting hours.