Fishes / Habitat
The molly, Poecilia sphenops, is a chunkier livebearer native to Central America, popular across India in its black, silver and dalmatian-spotted forms. Adults reach ten to twelve centimetres, conside
The molly, Poecilia sphenops, is a chunkier livebearer native to Central America, popular across India in its black, silver and dalmatian-spotted forms. Adults reach ten to twelve centimetres, considerably larger than a guppy, with a rounded body and a sail-like dorsal fin in the lyretail varieties.
Mollies are unusual among common aquarium fish in that they genuinely do better with a pinch of aquarium salt or even brackish water, reflecting their natural habitat in coastal and estuarine waters.
Worth knowing before you shop: most black and dalmatian mollies sold in Indian pet shops are not pure Poecilia sphenops but hybrids between several closely related molly species developed over generations of breeding, so exact parentage is rarely traceable. This does not affect their care, only their pedigree.
A single molly needs at least sixty litres, more if kept in the small groups they prefer. They like harder, more alkaline water than many tropicals, which again suits typical Indian tap water well, and benefit from a tablespoon of aquarium salt per ten litres.
Good filtration matters more with mollies than with guppies, since they are heavier feeders and produce more waste. A temperature of twenty four to twenty eight degrees suits them across most of the country.
Mollies are largely herbivorous grazers in the wild, so their diet should lean towards spirulina flakes, blanched vegetables such as courgette or spinach, and algae wafers, alongside the occasional protein treat. A diet too heavy in protein alone often leads to bloating.
They are peaceful but can be fin nippers if underfed or kept in cramped conditions, and males can pester females persistently, so a ratio of two or three females to each male keeps the peace.
Article content © Ravi Teja. All rights reserved.
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