Decorative types of aquarium mollies

When it comes to aquarium enthusiasts, mollies are highly sought-after due to their vivid colors and varied patterns. These fish are a fantastic option for both novice and expert aquarists because they are not only gorgeous but also simple to maintain.

Mollies are a vibrant splash of color that can liven up any aquarium, and there are many different decorative varieties available. Every variety has something special to behold, from the sleek elegance of the Black Molly to the shimmering hues of the Sailfin Molly.

This article will discuss some of the most common decorative mollies and highlight what makes them so popular with fish keepers, as well as their unique characteristics. There is a molly for every aquarium, whether you want to add a single feature fish or build a vibrant community.

Type of Molly	Description
Black Molly	Solid black color, peaceful and easy to care for, popular in home aquariums.
Dalmatian Molly	White with black spots, hardy and adaptable, adds a unique look to tanks.
Sailfin Molly	Large dorsal fin, comes in various colors, known for its striking appearance.
Gold Dust Molly	Golden body with black fins, brightens up any aquarium with its vibrant color.

Some of the most common ornamental fish for home aquariums are mollies, which are distinguished by their vivid colors, interesting patterns, and flexible habits. Both novice and seasoned aquarists will find these fish to be very easy to care for. This article explores the various kinds of mollies, emphasizing their distinctive characteristics and offering maintenance advice for a beautiful and healthy mollie aquarium.

Natural forms of molly

There are very few species of mollies that have been created by nature, and their native habitat was the reservoirs of Central and South America.

All species can be kept and cared for under the same conditions. Molly likes water that is between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius, either fresh or slightly brackish. Molly illnesses are not common. Molly’s diet can include live foods like bloodworms, mosquito larvae, and earthworms as well as plant foods like algae and lettuce leaves.

Molly fish are quite calm and get along well with a wide variety of other fish species. The fact that mollies are viviparous individuals especially pleases aquarists.

The majority of species have long, flattened bodies. The individual’s species determines the fins’ size, shape, and color.

Molly sphenops (Poecilia sphenops)

Like most mollies, Molly Sphenops has a thick, elongated body with flat sides. On a comparatively small head, large eyes and a slightly upturned mouth stand out. The fish can scrape algae off its surface and obtain food from the water by using the shape of its lips.

The sphenops fish is regarded as having few fins because of its small fins. The caudal fin is the most exquisite and broadest. Due to structural modifications, the anal fin has changed to become a gonopodium, or genital organ. A membranous hook on the gonopodium’s third ray is intended to fertilize the female.

The pecilia sphenops males have a less prominent abdomen and are significantly smaller than the females. In captivity, the size of the fish does not go beyond 10 cm; in natural conditions, females grow to a maximum of 10–12 cm. In the wild, males can grow up to 8 cm, while in an aquarium, they can grow up to 6 cm.

The molly sphenops is an unsightly color in its natural state. The body’s lower half has scales that range in color from gray to silver, while the upper half is colored in a gray-greenish hue. There are sporadic black spots all over the body. Fish with a natural color is nearly impossible to find on the market.

Free Molly (Poecilia salvatoris)

The Guatemalan reservoirs are the fish’s natural habitat. Although Free Molly was initially thought to be a morph of Molly sphenops, she was eventually recognized as a distinct species.

Salvatoris wild individuals can be identified by variations in body and fin color. The fish’s body is covered in silvery-yellow scales, while its tail and the fins on its abdomen and back have more variation. They come in red or orange hues with black dots. However, only males have fins this colorful; female fins are less expressive. Additionally, the males’ color gets brighter as they age.

Aquariums rarely contain this fish. This is explained by the fact that this kind of molly’s color gradually faded, the fish turned colorless, and people lost interest in it as a result of improper living conditions.

Free-ranging mollies have piqued aquarists’ interest once more in recent years due to their lack of pretense compared to their counterparts. Mollies that are allowed to roam freely can survive on freshwater, unlike other types of mollies.

Peten (Mollinesia petenensis)

The name of this fish comes from Lake Peten in Guatemala, where it lives. Peten is frequently confused for a swordtail due to the black, sword-shaped process on the lower lobe of the caudal fin. The scales resemble mother-of-pearls covering the body. The fins are mother-of-pearl shiny and have a reddish border around the edge.

Aquarists mostly raise the artificially produced velvety-black variety of Peten. However, fry with scales that are silver or bluish-green are frequently born, even in individuals that are entirely black.

Sailing Molly or Gelifer (Poecilia Velifera)

This fish is native to South Mexico. Her name came from a fan-shaped spinal fin that resembled a sail. The largest and most colorful variety of this kind is called sailing pecilia. Males in the wild can grow up to 20 cm in length; in an aquarium, their measurements are slightly smaller, at 12–14 cm.

There are three possible paint colors for the fish case: gray-green, bluish, and silver. Scattered throughout the body are shiny points that are the same color but have a more saturated tone that blend into one another like parallel lines.

The sailing fin has between 18 and 19 rays. There is an orange, red, and blue-colored stripe around the upper edge of the fin.

The tail fin has a rounded shape and is equally colorful. There are blue shining points all over the fin’s surface. The fin’s bluish hue becomes more reddish-black as it approaches the edge. Compared to males, females have a much paler appearance and lack the sail-shaped fin.

Only with appropriate maintenance is Velifera able to maintain its opulent sail. The fish lose their primary ornament—a lush fin—when the right circumstances aren’t met.

Aquariums holding large fish need to be around 100 liters in capacity. Calm neighbors are what sail molly likes. Narcissistic waterfowl members have the ability to pluck the molly’s vibrant fin.

Dwarf molly

Dwarf mollies are small individuals that are frequently found in Mexican reservoirs. They are no larger than 3–4 cm. There are golden dots all over the sides of the fish’s light brown body. The dominant male’s scales have a metallic blue sheen to them.

In contrast to their larger counterparts, dwarf mollies are equally at ease in water that ranges in temperature from 17 to 31 degrees. However, they need frequent water changes because they are more susceptible to oxygen deprivation.

Latipina Molly (Poecilia latipinna)

The broad-leaved molly is the fish’s alternate name. America’s Southwest and Southeast are home to this species. The latipin resembles the velifera in appearance, but it is smaller.

A tall, rectangular fin is formed on the back by more than a dozen rays. A caudal fin that is fully developed has a rounded shape.

The fish has scales all over its body that are bluish-gray in color. The males’ sides may have a greenish-brown hue. There are symmetrical rows formed by whitish shiny dots running along the sides. The chest and throat are golden-yellow in hue. There is a reddish border surrounding the dorsal fin. The entire fin’s surface is covered in a variety of colored inclusions. The female’s coloration is essentially the same as that of the males; it is merely a shade lighter.

Aquariums rarely contain wild latipin. They are mostly bred in their hybrid form.

Breeding morphs

At home, wild mollies hardly ever breed. Fish of these hybrid breeds are preferred by aquarium owners.

Mollies with more colorful appearances and unique shapes than their wild counterparts have been produced in large numbers by breeders.

Sailfin Molly Hybrids

Several breeds of mollies were developed from Velifera. Among them, Snowflake is the most well-liked. A fish with black eyes, silver-tinted fins, and a coat of white scales appears incredibly stunning. The fish is only 10–14 cm long and 5 cm wide at its widest point.

Several other morphs have been created from the sailfin molly in addition to Snowflake:

Dalmatian

A colored fish with the same name as a dog breed. The body of the molly is covered in white scales with sporadic black blotches. Adults don’t have set measurements. They have a maximum length of 5–6 cm and a maximum length of 12–13 cm. Members of this species are also known as calico mollies or marble mollies.

Coffee

Molly, she had a matte sheen and the color of roasted coffee. There are brownish speckles all over the dorsal and caudal fins.

Albino

Mollies with scales that are yellowish-orange and shimmer whitish-blue. On the fish’s head, the reddish eyes that are typical of albinos are prominently displayed.

More color variations of Velifera, such as high-finned green and orange mollies with a small, rounded tail plumage, have been obtained by breeders.

Artificial form of latipinia

Balloon

By reducing the body’s dimensions while maintaining the size of the latipinia’s internal organs, breeders have produced a new variety of broad-finned molly called Balloon. The fish’s protruding abdomen gives it the appearance of an air-filled balloon.

This individual appeals to aquarium enthusiasts not only for its unique shape but also for its vivid orange, white, red, and black colors.

Owing to the curvature of their spine, Molly Balloons require more environmental conditions than other species.

The size of the aquarium determines the size of each individual specimen. The body lengthens with increasing tank size. Molly balloons can reach a maximum length of 12–13 cm.

A tiny percentage of fry that breed at home survive, and the majority of the progeny have normal body structures.

Red Leopard

The red leopard is a fairly uncommon breed of broad-finned animal. The fish’s reddish-orange color with black blotches gave rise to its name. Vegetarian food is preferred by leopards. To give the scales a brighter shade, it is necessary to include food containing carotene in the diet.

Varieties of Sphenops

The most popular variety among aquarists is Sphenops – black molly (Black Molly).

Some black people have greenish sheen on the sides with dots of brown or orange color. Because of its lyre-shaped tail, this breed is frequently referred to as the black lyre. Fish with fin edging that is cherry colored are the most valuable.

Lyre-tailed

Unlike other species, the lyre-tailed black molly can change its sex. Furthermore, rebirth is possible at any age. The yellow molly is a hybrid of sphenops that comes in a variety of colors, ranging from vivid lemon to yellow-black.

When this fish reaches adulthood, its dark birth color gives way to a golden hue. Compared to black mollies, golden mollies are substantially smaller; an adult’s length is no more than 5 cm.

Two-colored

The juicy yellow color of the front portion of the body suddenly changes into a coal-black tail in the two-color yellow-black molly.

There are also those whose scales are entirely black and dusted with gold. This breed does not contain any albinos. These fish always have black eye pupils with a very faint silver rim.

All selective morphs of mollies should be kept and cared for under the same circumstances as natural individuals.

The ability to purchase the mollies that you like most is made possible by a wide variety of species, shapes, and color variations. Any aquarium will be adorned with vibrant, colorful fish.

If you want to give your aquarium some bright color and lively movement, mollies are a great option. These fish have different hues and forms, and each has a special allure of its own. There is a type of sea cucumber that will fit any tank and preference, whether you like the eye-catching black variety or the cheery, bright sailfin variety.

In addition to their beauty, mollies are renowned for being comparatively low maintenance. They are appropriate for both novice and seasoned aquarists because of their excellent environmental adaptability. Mollies may flourish and become the focal point of any aquatic environment given the correct care and environmental circumstances.

Mollies bring a dynamic element to your aquarium as they explore and interact with their surroundings, adding to its overall appeal. They are a flexible choice for community tanks because of their peaceful nature, which permits them to live alongside many other species.

Mollies are a popular choice for aquarists because they offer a pleasing combination of color, elegance, and ease of maintenance. You can establish a healthy habitat where these ornamental fish can thrive by being aware of their requirements and preferences.

Video on the topic

Mollies of different species and sizes