Black Molly
Poecilia Sphenops var. "Black"
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 21–28 °C
Species profile
Silver Sailfin Molly
Poecilia latipinna var. "Silver Sailfin"
Common names: Silver Sailfin Molly, Sailfin Mollie, Sailfin Molly
Colour varietyLivebearers
Adult size
Up to 12.5 cm
Up to 12.5 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A keeper who has researched this fish and can match its needs
Think carefully if
- Your water is soft and acidic, which often causes poor health in livebearers
- You keep shrimp you want to protect
A shining silver molly, in which males have a huge, flag-like dorsal fin. Keep a group of at least 3 in 110 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A shining silver molly, in which males have a huge, flag-like dorsal fin. It needs more room than a short-finned molly, and it does best in hard water, with a little salt if you wish.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Males have a gonopodium, which is a modified anal fin used for mating. Females are larger and rounder.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 440–550 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 100–175 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 110 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 76 cm
- Minimum group size
- 3
- Recommended group size
- 6
- Activity level
- Active
- Flow preference
- Low to moderate
- Planting preference
- Heavily planted
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Provide dense plants or floating cover for fry and for females that want a rest from males, and keep the water hard and alkaline.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Active, hardy and always on the move, with males displaying to females.
Keep a group, with two or three females for every male.
Not territorial, although some males chase each other.
Suits a peaceful community that likes hard water. Avoid fin nippers. Adults may eat shrimplets. It is likely to eat shrimp.
Water Parameters
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Herbivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Spirulina or algae wafersShould make up much of the diet.
- Blanched vegetablesCourgette, cucumber and peas work well. Remove leftovers within a day.
- Small frozen foodsAn occasional addition for protein.
An omnivore with a strong need for plant matter, and it spends much of the day grazing algae.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding type
- Livebearer
- Breeding difficulty
- Easy
- Parental care
- None
- Baby foods
- Crushed flake or powdered fry foodFry can eat this from birth.
- Newly hatched brine shrimpSpeeds up growth in the first weeks.
Gives birth to live young, with no special setup needed. Adults may eat fry, so provide dense plants or move a heavily pregnant female to a separate, planted tank.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Captive Bred, Central America, Mexico, North America, United States
- Natural habitat
- Ditch, Freshwater Stream, Pond, Swamp
- Audience level
- Beginner
Classification
- Profile type
- Colour variety
- Genus
- Poecilia
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Species group
- Fish, Livebearers, Mollies
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Dalmatian Molly
Poecilia latipinna var. "Dalmation"
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 12.5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 110 litres
- Temperature
- 21–26 °C
Gold Tuxedo Lyretail Molly
Poecilia Sphenops var. "Gold Tuxedo Lyretail"
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 21–28 °C
Gold Tuxedo Molly
Poecilia Sphenops var. "Gold Tuxedo"
- Care level
- Beginner
- Adult size
- 8 cm
- Minimum tank
- 81 litres
- Temperature
- 21–28 °C