Jumbo Platy

[Arei]

I was in a new LFS today that had a few what I would call jumbo platies. They are MASSIVE. There was a rainbow pair that had to be 3 inches long, and then there was another platy even larger then that!!

I picked up a Rainbow that was about the size of my largest platy, but with its coloring and body shape identical to the large rainbow pair, I assume this might have been their fry (this tank was also full of all sizes of rainbow platy fry, which I also guess belongs to that large pair). So I guess he will grow up to be a jumbo.

If I am able to upgrade my tank soon, I would like to go back and get those 3 jumbo ones because this is just too cool.

But before I do so I am curious if their huge size makes them more prone to problems or issues. Or will they just be regular platies... but huge XD (might it affect their lifespan?) I was looking at other large community species to add when I upgrade my tank but these jumbo platies are awesome!!!

 

[fluffycabbage]

I was in a new LFS today that had a few what I would call jumbo platies. They are MASSIVE. There was a rainbow pair that had to be 3 inches long, and then there was another platy even larger then that!!

I picked up a Rainbow that was about the size of my largest platy, but with its coloring and body shape identical to the large rainbow pair, I assume this might have been their fry (this tank was also full of all sizes of rainbow platy fry, which I also guess belongs to that large pair). So I guess he will grow up to be a jumbo.

If I am able to upgrade my tank soon, I would like to go back and get those 3 jumbo ones because this is just too cool.

But before I do so I am curious if their huge size makes them more prone to problems or issues. Or will they just be regular platies... but huge XD (might it affect their lifespan?) I was looking at other large community species to add when I upgrade my tank but these jumbo platies are awesome!!!

ive never heard of these, woud be interested in seeing them though!

 

[boost-67]

sounds pretty cool, put some pics up plz

 

[Arei]

I took a few pictures with my phone, they were a bit camera shy I guess because when they'd get in the perfect pose and I'd take a picture they would move =_=

Here's a clear shot of one of the jumbo rainbows.

This was perfect until it moved (big platy is there in the middle moving his head) but that sorta gives you a good size comparison.

Though this might be even better:

Also there was this one who was even bigger then those two:

My friend told me this one looked more like a (female? since it has no long tail) swordtail.

That one is just massive. It was all and wanted me to take her home, but I think she needs a long tank to be happy (and my new one is going to be tall, makes me so MAD I sold my long 20 gallon because I would've set it up just for this awesome fish!!!)

 

[heygetsmart]

I've had guppies that were GIGANTIC >,< Everyone basically called me crazy though! Lol

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I would actually say what you have is not Jumbo platys but female swordtails- the black & white female "platy" looks particularly swordtail-esque to me (as well as a grey/bronze bodied red tailed female in the middle top of the second picture). Swordtails & Platys are very closely related to each other, so much so that a great deal of the colours & patterns found in swordtails were achieved by crossbreeding them with platys at one point or another (swordtails natural colouring is grey with a green/bluish/yellowish sheen). Female swordtails & female platys look very similar (swordtails grow larger than platys though).

Swordtails;
http/www.tropicalfishtanksonline.com/tag/live-bearer/
http/www.tropicalfishtanksonline.com/tag/live-bearer/
(^ Note the longer body shape of the female swordtail, particularly with more length between the dorsal fin & tail than what you would get with a platy)

Platys;
http/www.fancytailguppy.com/platy-types.cfm
(Platys have a shorter body shape/length)

I've had guppies that were GIGANTIC >,< Everyone basically called me crazy though! Lol

Yeah i had some massive guppys once- they are actually closer to the original size of wild guppys, but with so much unscrupulous & selective breeding over the years guppys have overal decreased in size and the larger ones aren't so common anymore (i much preferred the larger ones as i found them to be a lot more robust in terms of health).

 

[the biffster]

we used to in the early
90s used to get some massive
steel blue Micky mouse platys
the were gorgeous

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

^ Yeah i once had some awesome large steel blue mickey mouse platys, they were so great & robust- so gutted i rehomed them, as i never saw any quite like them again .

 

[the biffster]

^ Yeah i once had some awesome large steel blue mickey mouse platys, they were so great & robust- so gutted i rehomed them, as i never saw any quite like them again .

same here

 

[Gill]

^ Yeah i once had some awesome large steel blue mickey mouse platys, they were so great & robust- so gutted i rehomed them, as i never saw any quite like them again .

I have a Pair, the Female is Huge where as the male is about 1/4 her size

 

[Arei]

Ahhhh ok They had the rainbow colored ones labeled as Large Platy, and the silver/black as a Swordtail. But they are more elongated, the ones labeled as platies that is.

The one I bought, that I assume might be their fry, is a bit more elongated then my other platies. He... looks different His body shape is different from a typical swordtail and of course a typical platy. I'll try to take his picture because it's different. I don't know how to really describe it but it's atypical for both species I think. He's a real cutie though, anyway XD

I went back to the store today and that pair of rainbows is gone But the silver/black swordtail is still there. Cross your fingers she is still there in about a week and a half or 2 so I can have her for my much larger tank <3

 

[endlessendlers]

Reading the comments in this thread got me thinking. .... I also have an oversized "platy" in my tank. Always thought she was a bit different from the others! Lol. She's yellow bodied with a green sheen to it and has an orange tail. The distance between her dorsal fin and tail fin is much longer than the other Platys also. I have now come to the conclusion that she is actually a swordtail who was wrongly labelled at my lfs. She has a devoted tuxedo platy male who follows her everywhere. Will be interesting to see is any of her recent fry have swords. Thanks this thread has been very helpful!