Scientific Name: Poecilia sphenops
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How easy are they to care for?
A generally hardy fish, best given plenty of room to avoid stunting the growth of their sailfin and to give females plenty of space from males, provide plenty of green foods for best results.
How large can they grow?
Male 8cm. Female 12cm.
Where in the world are they from?
Originally from rivers of Venezuela, Columbia and Mexico.
What is the ideal number to keep together?
It is always advisable to keep 2-3 females per male to dissipate any pestering.
What water conditions do they require?
Ideally slightly alkaline water conditions are provided between 7.0pH - 8.5pH. Temperatures should range between 22-28°C.
What should you feed them?
Molly should be fed a variety of flake, frozen, freeze dried and live foods for a varied diet. Being omnivores they will happily accept a wide range of foods, although for best results green foods should be offered in abundance.
How compatible are they with other fish?
A generally peaceful fish, however it should be kept mostly with fish that can tolerate its more alkaline requirements.
Can they be bred in captivity?
These fish like all livebearers will readily breed in captivity, it is more a matter of when not how it will happen if you have a mix of males and females.