Difference between platy, molly and swordtail

miraloma · June 4th, 2008

I bought a female mickey mouse platy from PetCo. But when I got home and set her free among my other female platy, the new one didn't look quite the same as the resident platys. How do I tell the difference between molly, platy and swordtail when it's a female?

TFA101 · June 4th, 2008

platys are short and have a more stout body
mollies are more elongated and will grow much larger
swordtail males are easily identified by their "sword" on the lower lobe of their tail
swordtail females are like longer platies, and they have a distinct difference between mollies

miraloma · June 4th, 2008

The more I look at it, the more I'm convinced it's not a platy. Could someone give me a definitive answer? I've attached a few pictures of the "female platy" I bought today.

Tom · June 4th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraloma

The more I look at it, the more I'm convinced it's not a platy. Could someone give me a definitive answer? I've attached a few pictures of the "female platy" I bought today.

That is a platy alright.
Tom

Allie · June 5th, 2008

That's a Mickey Mouse platy.

TFA101 · June 5th, 2008

yeah, that is a platy. she looks a little slender, but indiviaduals vary in appearance

COBettaCouple · June 6th, 2008

She looks like a young female platy.. and either not pregnant or not very pregnant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by miraloma

The more I look at it, the more I'm convinced it's not a platy. Could someone give me a definitive answer? I've attached a few pictures of the "female platy" I bought today.

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