The Montana Hot Springs & Platies

I believe it was Uncle Andy that told me about the hot springs. Along the highway outside Missoula there was a pond along the side of the road. At least some of the water that fed into the pond was from hot springs, because the water was warm, but not hot. What was really fascinating was that someone had dumped some platies (Xiphophorus Variatus) in the pond and they survived. Perhaps I should say thrived as the hot springs were just loaded with them, even close to the shore.

There was a man swimming in the water. He said that the platies were up to four inches long in the deeper water.

We caught some platies and put them in a gallon coffee can with water. Amazingly, the platies survived the trip back to Bremerton in the back of the station wagon. These platies and their offspring lived for several years in my aquarium.

This story is almost magical to me when I think back upon it.