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Freshwater fishDalmatian Molly
Dalmatian Molly
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These are popular fish due to their Dalmatian puppy coloration, though the lyre tail version is a bit more popular, maybe because of the puppy tail.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Poecilia sphenops (aquarium-bred hybrids) |
| Origin | Mexico and Central America (wild ancestors); aquarium-bred |
| Care Level | Easy, good for beginners |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Adult Size | Up to 3–4" |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Diet | Omnivore (needs plant matter) |
| Water Temperature | 75–82°F |
| pH | 7.5–8.5 (hard water) |
| Group Size | Keep more females than males |
| Shipping Size | Approx. 1½" |
Care Guide
Tank setup: Mollies like hard, alkaline water. Give them plants, open swimming space and good filtration, since they are active and produce a fair amount of waste. Aquarium salt is optional; they also do well in brackish tanks.
Feeding: Mollies graze on algae, so feed a quality flake that includes vegetable matter once or twice a day. They also enjoy algae wafers and frozen brine shrimp.
Tankmates: Mollies get along with most peaceful community fish that like similar hard water, such as platies, swordtails, guppies, danios, rainbowfish, corydoras and plecos. Avoid fin-nippers and soft-water specialists. Keeping more females than males keeps any one female from being harassed.
Good to know: Mollies are livebearers that breed readily. Fry are born free-swimming and will be eaten unless there are dense plants or a breeding box for them to hide in.
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