The characins are a large group of freshwater fishes found in South and Central America and Africa. They are characterized by the Weberian Apparatus (the linkage of bones between the swimbladder and the inner ear) that allows them to hear high frequency sounds.
A dark streak running along each side of the body and a slightly golden area on the side of the head behind the eye help to distinguish this tiny catfish. The body is otherwise sufficiently transparent to allow the green eggs in the female’s reproductive tract to be visible prior to spawning.
The Platy has a broad body and naturally rounded fins. Spotted patterning on the caudal peduncle and dorsal fin is common in the wild, and it has been maintained in a number of domestic strains.
In terms of its coloration, Boeseman’s Rainbowfish is a fish of two halves. The head and front of the body are bluish, while the rear half is yellowish-orange, sometimes bordering on red.
Shaped rather like a coin, with a silvery body color, the Silver Dollar makes an impressive tank occupant, especially when a shoal of these fish are housed together. They can be sexed quite easily, since the anal fin is longer in males and has a reddish tinge at the front.
