Poecilia sphenops
Molly
A rewarding companion for an owner who has researched its needs honestly. As with every animal on this site, this profile is a starting point: confirm details with a vet or specialist before bringing one home.
PoeciliidaeLifespan 3–5 yearsCare complexity 1/5Suitable for beginners
Representative fish photography; individual appearances vary.
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Poecilia sphenops
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Origin
- Central and South America
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Adult size
- 8–12 cm
- Weight
- 3–6 g
- Temperament
- Generally peaceful livebearer; larger and more boisterous than platies.
- Activity level
- Moderate to high.
- Social needs
- Keep in groups with at least two females per male.
- Intelligence
- Modest.
- Noise
- Silent.
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Minimum 80 litres; appreciates slightly hard, alkaline water.
- Space requirement
- Community tank.
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C.
- Humidity
- Not applicable.
- Exercise
- Active mid-water swimmer.
- Grooming
- Not applicable.
Diet and feeding
Omnivorous with a strong need for vegetable matter; algae wafers and spirulina flake help.
Behaviour and compatibility
Prolific breeder; fry survive only with dense plant cover.
- With children
- Good family fish.
- With other animals
- Peaceful with similarly sized community fish.
- Training difficulty
- Not trainable.
Health
- Ich
- Molly disease (shimmying) in soft or acidic water
- Fin rot
Shimmying is usually a water-chemistry problem, not an infection; test before medicating.
Special care requirements
See the housing, diet and health sections — this species has needs that are easy to underestimate.