Fancy and Wild Type Livebearers (and some other things)
Xiphophorus variatus (Meek 1904)
Common name: variable platyfish
What do you get when you cross a Platy and a Swordtail? A Variatus....Wrong. Variatus are in fact not an aquarium creation but exist in the wild. Many of the strains of variatus seen in your local fish store are in fact crosses between X maculatus and X. helleri, or other combinations.
The wild variatus can be distinguished from the more commoin Platy (X. maculatus)by its slimmer, more elongated body shape and slightly longer dorsal fin. Of course a variatus does not have a sword.
Wild male variatus do not breed true as we in the fancy segment of the hobby have become used to. Within a single population the males can exhibit great variation in color, hence the common name variable palatyfish.
I currently do not have any wild variatus, but some of the HF Blues I have exhibit one very annoying trait of their wild lineage, they don't show their true colors until fully mature.
Hi Fin Blue Parrot Variatus Strain #1
Hi Fin Blue Parrot Variatus Strain 2
Hi Fin Blue Parrot Variatus Strain 3
Hi Fin Blue Parrot Variatus Strain 4
Hi Fin Blue Parrot Variatus Strain # 1
This is my original strain of Parrot Variatus and by far my favorite fish. I have been working with this strain for years now. I guess working is not the right word since I think they are perfect already.
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Hi Fin Blue Parrot Variatus Strain #2
The blue on this Parrot is more of a baby blue and less intense. It does not photograph well. The real life fish is quite blue. I often refer to it as my Carolina Blue Parott.
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Hi Fin Blue Parrot Variatus Strain #3
My newest strain, don't have a male but was able to get a couple nice drops from the female. We will see how they mature.
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Hi Fin Blue Parrot Variatus Strain 4
A lot of black spotting in this one. Also a brilliant blue and red, with a nice hi fin.
