Red Top White Moon Platy 4cm

Red Top White 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 Red Top White Moon Platy.

What makes these platies so striking is the high contrast combination of warm and cool tones. The front half of this fish is a creamy pink, which fades into a deep sunset orange. This strain also sports the classic Mickey Mouse pattern towards the tail, which platies are adored for. The colours of the red top white moon platies colours paired with their compact, torpedo-shaped body and confident swimming behaviour, make them pop in heavily planted aquascapes or darker minimalist tanks.

Platies are great because they only get to around 6-7 cm 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 platy is widespread from Central America to Mexico.

Tank Recommendations for your Red Top White Moon Platy

Being a very small and easy to care for fish, the red top white moon platy can be kept in nano aquariums with the minimum being a 57 litre aquarium. Platies would do perfectly fine in either a tall or long tank, 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 lighter 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 red top white 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 Red Top White Moon Platy

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