Black Molly

Black Molly
Scientific Name: Poecilia sphenops

The Everything Guide to Fishkeeping

Intro

The Black Molly is a common aquarium fish that originates from Mexico and Central America. They typically have long fins with the males having a larger anal fin that resembles a sail. Maximum size is about 6 cm and they are more fun to watch in groups but they don't have to be kept in schools.

Fishkeeping

Black Mollies live in Brackish waters and benefit from slightly salty water. They also prefer temperatures between 26-29 C. They are very hardy fish and can live for a long well in freshwater or colder water, but these conditions resemble their natural environment. They are susceptible to fungus infections and I have found that warmer water seems to prevent this.

Feeding

These fish will eat just about anything. They do eat algae, typically the short green strands and in my tank the babies live mostly off of eating the algae. Most of the time they swim around the tank cleaning the rocks and plants (they are safe for live plants). At feeding time they are very active and inhale the flakes faster than any other fish in the tank.

Breeding

In aquariums they are easily bred, it gets to be kind of a nuisance really. They are live bearers with the female typically giving birth to 15 to 20 babies. The young look like little black tadpoles and will generally be okay in a community tank as long as there is plenty of shelter.

There are many other breeds of mollies including the gold dust, the silver, the sailfin, the balloon, the Dalmatian lyretail, the marble, black lyretail, and silver lyretail. These fish are very active and responsive, a very enjoyable fish to have in the tank.

As I stare at the mason jar of Black Mollies on my work desk, I feel a strange urge to expand upon this node.

"In aquariums they are easily bred, it gets to be kind of a nuisance really."

This is a gross understatement.

We started an aquarium - well, SHE started the aquarium, I just keep it running by doing little things and mechanical things.

The fish make her happy, so I do what I can.

Not being experts in aquarium care, we started off with a whole mess of goldfish. They seem easy, but really, I should emphasize the mess part. Goldfish make aquariums disasters very quickly. Even with plecos and catfish, the aquarium became unmanageable, and when we left for a trip, all the fish died. I wasn't exactly heart broken.

In usual fashion in our house, we ignored the now empty aquarium. Well- empty of anything alive. Strangely, one day the water was crystal clear.

Then I came home and more fish had appeared. Another pleco, two cat fish, and a variety of Mollies, including four black molly fish. These fish thrived, the tank stayed clean, and we seem to have found the good balance of existence.

And then the Black Mollies started getting fat. FAT. Oh!! The Molly fish are PREGNANT!!

So we think, anyways. We research. Turns out they breed easily, as referenced above, and give live birth. Also turns out three out of the four black mollies are female. And so very fat.

Now we get excited!! Baby fishies!! And we wait. Everything we read says about a month... well, a month goes by and nothing. Ok - so maybe they don't feel safe. We get more plants for the tank to give the fry a place to hide. More time - more MONTHS go by, and nothing.

and then...

Suddenly there are tiny fishies. Lots of tiny fishies. Everyday, more tiny fishies. Dozens of babies have been born, and seem to be thriving. They grow fast! So now we have an aquarium full of black mollies. We also still have very fat adult females. But things have leveled out. The tank is full, we start poke friends and family about taking some Mollies - I mean, doesn't EVERYONE want Black Molly fish? Well, ok. A tank full of Mollies, everyone seems happy.

And then...

There were more. As of this week, more tiny fishies have been appearing. Turns out Mollies don't have a set gestation period, it seems. So many fish.

We are getting more serious about finding homes for them. Yesterday I brought five to a friend. Today I am delivering four to someone else. Tomorrow a co-worker takes four more.

I need to catch and rehome the rather successful male. Or maybe I can hire him out for a stud fee.... Anyone want some Mollies?