Family: Poeciliidiae
Distribution: Poecilia sphenops, known also as Molly, is a benthopelagic, non-migratory species found in the Americas, from Mexico to Columbia.
PH: 7.5 – 8.5
Temperature: 18°C – 28°C (64 – 82F)
Hardness: 11 – 30 dH
Description: Poecilia sphenops can get up to 6 cm in length; its common length is around 4 cm. It has a reasonably thick-set body, black in colouration, and fins that are rounded, not elongated. Males are slender and have a modified anal fin; females are more rounded. This species has a life expectancy of 3 – 5 years.
Diet: Poecilia reticulata can be fed a varied diet of flake, live-food and freeze-dried food. Its diet should consist primarily of flake foods with the occasional helping of live foods and frozen foods.
Breeding: Poecilia sphenops is a livebearing species, which makes breeding easy. You might like to add a little bit of aquarium salt to aid the spawning process. You can ease the stress on the female by having one male to every two females when attempting to spawn. It would be a good idea to separate the adults from the young fry – or provide plenty of dense planting in your tank as hiding spaces – because they will prey on the youngsters.
Comments: Poecilia latipinna will require at least a 15 gallon tank. You should provide plenty of plants and hiding places for spawning. This species will get sick if kept in an entirely salt-free environment; you will know the fish is sick if it begins to swim erratically. This species is easy to breed and is therefore highly recommended to beginners.
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Recommended Compatible Species: The Molly will live happily with most Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They are also great tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, CorydorasCatfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami(such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also can live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danioand Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish make great tank mates.
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