Molly Care, Caring for Mollies (Aquarium Fish)

Scientific Name: Poecilia sphenops


Origin: Central America

Life-span: 4-5 years

Temperature:  70° to 82°F  (21 to 28°C)

Food: Flake food, bloodworms, tubifex, brine shrimp, algae wafers, frozen foods

Care: The molly grows up to four inches and is a great fish for beginners.  They are fairly easy to keep.  Mollies are a peaceful community fish and enjoy a planted aquarium.  They enjoy water with a little salt and it is recommended to add a teaspoon of salt for every 5 gallons of aquarium water (unless other fish in the aquarium can't handle it).

Sexing: Like guppies, mollies are livebearers and the males have a gonopodium and a larger dorsal fin.  Pregnant females have a darker spot near the anal fin called the gravid spot.

Breeding:  Put two or three females with a male.  The molly is a livebearer and will have live babies, and they will not lay eggs.  They can have up to 40 babies.  Provide hiding spots for the baby fish otherwise the parents will eat the babies (fry).  It's a good idea to separate the parents from the fry after birth.

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