A detailed guide on the best peaceful, adaptable livebearer fish species available in dozens of colors and fin shapes for beginner aquarists, the Molly fish (Poecilia sphenops).
Why Mollies Are Ideal for Beginners
One beginner livebearer species you can count on to beautify your aquarium is the Molly fish. It’s a peaceful, adaptable, hardy aquarium fish that’s available in dozens of colors and fin shapes.
If you’re a first-time aquarist looking for a compatible and easy fish for beginners, Mollies are a sure choice. These species thrive in freshwater, brackish, or slightly marine environments, making them an ideal choice for new aquariums.
This guide features 12 types of Molly fish, ranging from basic, common variants to exotic, rare species.
Common Molly (Poecilia sphenops) Overview
For this list, we’ll open with the beginner aquarium fish, Sphenops molly.
The original resilient and low-maintenance wild-type variant of this species is the common molly fish. This wild molly is known for its grayish color in the wild. However, over time, scientists and aquarists, through selective breeding, created new colors in domestic variants of the original Molly species.
Common Molly Care Guide
The common Mollies originally come from Central and South America, so they need the following water conditions to thrive:
- Temperature: 77 – 82°F
- pH: 7.0 – 8.5
- Hardness: 10 – 25 dGH
Ensure the tank is at least 10 gallons per molly fish, and the water is moderately to extremely hard by adding minerals to tap water. Sphenops Mollies develop on a varied diet of animal and plant-based matter, so ensure they have a balanced diet.
Black Molly Overview
Black Molly fish variants are a sleek, jet-black morph notable for their striking color. Like other beginner livebearer Mollies, they also have diverse fin shapes depending on the species used for their selective breeding.
Some black Molly variants are the common black Molly, lyretail, sailfin, and balloon black Molly.
This glossy freshwater fish adds contrast to colorful tanks and is highly popular among hobbyists seeking affordable maintenance. Male variants of this fish are smaller and more slender than their female counterparts.
Black Molly Care Guide
Black Mollies love warm, alkaline water that’s rich in minerals. So, set the following parameters:
- Temperature: 75 – 82°F
- pH: 7.0 – 8.5
- Hardness: 15 – 30 dGH
This peaceful community fish is compatible with Corydoras catfish, guppies, Platies, and Tetras. Because they eat a varied diet, these black Mollies shouldn’t live with shrimps, as they may see them as food.
Dalmatian Molly Overview
Another standout variant of this peaceful livebearer species is the Dalmatian Molly. The Dalmatian Molly fish typically has a white or silver base scale with black speckles, giving it a playful and easygoing appearance.
Each of these playful aquarium fish species has a unique pattern, allowing you to create a Dalmatian-only aquarium with a variety of colors. Add live plants to keep the tank interactive and natural-looking for your pets.
Dalmatian Molly Care Guide
To keep this spotted aquarium fish healthy and thriving in your aquarium, set ideal water conditions
- Temperature: 75 – 82°F
- pH: 7.0 – 8.5
- Hardness: 10 – 25 dGH
Dalmatian Mollies are non-aggressive and enjoy swimming with other peaceful fish, such as danios and Platies. This species also thrives on an omnivorous diet, eating both plant-based and animal-based foods.
Gold Dust Molly Overview
For an exotic-looking aquarium, you can add the gold dust molly to your collection. It’s a half-black, half-gold species that shimmers under LED lighting.
This shimmering Molly is friendly and social, so it’ll thrive in a community tank. It also has the capacity to tolerate hardy conditions and is perfect for mid-sized tanks with a diverse community of fish.
Note, however, that this black-gold Molly fish is a prolific breeder in case you want to rear more of it.
Gold Dust Molly Care Guide
Before multiplying your Gold Dust molly, here are some care tips to note.
This Molly color morph grows between 4 and 6 inches for males and 6 and 10 inches for females.
- Temperature: 75 – 82°F
- pH: 7.0 – 8.0
- Hardness: 10 – 25 dGH
This fish species eats high-quality flakes, algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and brine shrimp. Gold dust Mollies are schoolers, so always keep them in groups of five to six.
Balloon Molly Overview
One unique variant that’ll certainly draw attention to your tank is the balloon molly fish, a short-bodied fish with a distinct “balloon” shape.
Balloon Molly fish come in different colors from vibrant red, orange, and yellow to cooler white, blue, and intense black. Some even feature patterned scales, reminiscent of animal prints, and two-toned colorways.
Like other streamlined variants, this plump aquarium fish is also peaceful, social, and extra sensitive to poor water quality. So, you must provide the utmost care possible for this fancy molly to survive and thrive in a community.
Balloon Molly Care Guide
You can keep this decorative livebearer alive by setting the following water conditions:
- Temperature: 77 – 82°F
- pH: 7.0 – 8.0
- Hardness: 10 – 25 dGH
Add a robust filtration system to the aquarium tank to maintain pristine and optimal water quality. They’re a small species, so Balloon Mollies need only 10 gallons per single fish to be comfortable in a tank.
They can form a community with other small, peaceful fish and reproduce easily under controlled, ideal conditions.
Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna) Overview
Mollies can also be a large fin fish, especially the unique Sailfin variant. It’s known for having large dorsal fins, speckled scales, and a graceful swimming style.
Because of its large fins, the sailfin molly needs ample swimming space. Also, unlike other mollies, this variant enjoys slightly higher temperatures.
Sailfin Molly Care Guide
The ideal water condition for the latipinna molly includes the following parameters:
- Temperature: 75 – 82°F
- pH: 7.5 – 8.5
- Hardness: 10 – 25 dGH
This peaceful livebearer requires pristine water conditions to maintain a ppm level lower than 40, along with a consistent and steady supply of oxygen. For food, Sailfin mollies will eat animal and plant matter such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, blanched vegetables, and commercial flakes.
Lyretail Molly Overview
The lyretail molly is notable for its elegant, elongated, fork-like tail fins, which add movement and beauty to an aquarium when it swims. This fancy Molly fish species’ tail makes it easy to distinguish its gender, as the males have longer lyre tails than the females.
Because of its delicate tail shape, you should avoid sharp décor that can damage the lyretail’s fins and body. Here are some more care tips for protecting this ornamental aquarium fish.
Lyretail Molly Care Guide
Start by getting a tank that’s at least 15 gallons in size per single Lyretail Molly fish, then fill it with water set to the right parameters.
- Temperature: 72 – 78°F
- pH: 7.0 – 8.0
- Hardness:
Once the living conditions are right, provide the right tankmates and food for your graceful aquarium species.
Keep your Lyretail molly in groups of four to five to encourage their social nature and feed them a balanced diet of plant and animal-based foods supplemented with high-quality commercial flakes.
Platinum Molly Overview
If you want a variant that reflects beautifully under aquarium LED lights, then the platinum molly fish is a prime choice.
This species’ metallic white or silver hue, paired with an almost translucent aqua blue tail, stands out against any theme, but it particularly suits minimalist or modern-themed aquariums.
Platinum Molly Care Guide
You can keep this silver aquarium fish with other peaceful and small fish, such as Danios and Platies. Use a tank that’s about 10 to 15 gallons wide for a single white molly fish, and add an extra 5 gallons for each new fish you introduce into the tank.
Feed this beginner livebearer with live food, frozen, plant-based, and commercial food for a rich, balanced diet.
Marble Molly Overview
The marble molly fish variant is similar to the Dalmatian molly, except that it has a mottled mix of black, white, and silver across its body and fins, rather than a plain white body with speckled black spots.
Like the Dalmatian, however, this mottled molly also has unique markings on each fish, so you can have a species-only community that looks diverse.
Due to its origin, this black and white aquarium fish is hardy and tolerant of varied conditions; however, it still requires a clean and optimal water environment.
Marble Molly Care Guide
The ideal water conditions for this speckled livebearer are:
- Temperature: 74 – 78°F
- pH: 7.5 – 8.5
- Hardness: 10 – 25 dGH
Maintain a tank size of 20 to 30 gallons per single fish, and ensure the water alkalinity is high. For food, give your mottled Molly an omnivorous diet of plant and animal matter.
Orange / Sunset Molly Overview
Bring warmth into your tank with the Sunset Molly, which is typically a vibrant orange to red-orange morph. This bright aquarium fish is an excellent choice for autumn-themed tanks or colorful displays.
These sunset mollies are typically small at 2.5 – 4 inches, but the Sailfin variant can stretch an extra inch or two more. This colorful beginner fish is also suitable for intermediate and expert aquarists, as long as you know how to care for it.
Orange / Sunset Molly Care Guide
With proper care for this orange molly fish, you can enjoy 3 to 5 years together. A small group of four can live comfortably in a 10 to 20-gallon tank. They also need specific tank conditions for optimal health.
- Temperature: 72 – 82°F
- pH: 7.5 – 8.5
- Hardness: 10 – 25 dGH
Feed them high-quality flakes and pellets as their primary food while supplementing it with plant-based and protein-rich meals. They can live peacefully with freshwater snails, gouramis, and Platies.
Creamsicle Lyretail Molly Overview
As a lyretail molly, this variant has the distinctive fork-like tail fin, but it really stands out for its two-toned appearance. The Creamsicle Molly has a white body with orange fins, making it a decorative aquarium pet.
The orange color in some varieties is so overwhelming that the cream body appears as a faint tint on the underside. This orange white fish is also peaceful and ideal for community setups with platies, guppies, and other small fish with similar temperaments.
Creamsicle Lyretail Molly Care Guide
To keep this ornamental aquarium fish healthy and vibrant-looking, you must maintain an optimal environment with a balanced diet.
For the water quality and conditions, set the following parameters:
- Temperature: 75 – 82°F
- pH: 7.5 – 8.5
- Hardness: 15 – 30 dGH
Ensure your creamsicle molly fish eats a balanced diet of blanched vegetables, such as zucchini, and protein-rich foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Mollies for Brackish & Community Tanks
As an adaptable livebearer, all Mollies can tolerate moderate to high levels of salt in brackish water, making them a great starter fish for beginners in brackish environments.
However, be careful when adding this species to your tank. Transition them slowly to help explore new tank environments. This guide already contains all the tools you need to run a brackish molly fish aquarium.
Brackish Water Molly Care Guide
To make a smooth molly saltwater transition, follow these tips carefully. Start by getting a designated tank that’s at least 10 to 15 gallons for a small group of 4 – 5. Then set the right water parameters:
- Temperature: 70 – 85°F
- pH: 7.0 – 8.5
- Hardness: 10 – 30 dGH
Include essential equipment such as an air pump, water heater, and filter. Once you set up the right environment for these community livebearers, you can introduce your mollies into the tank.
Start with freshwater, then slowly introduce saltwater into the tank using a drip tube. Finally, ensure you stabilize the conditions and feed your pets a balanced diet two to three times daily, but in small portions that they can finish in under 2 minutes.
Conclusion: Colorful, Hardy, and Beginner-Proof
Because it’s an easy fish for beginners to maintain and breed, Mollies are one of the most recommended aquarium starters worldwide.
Besides the easy beginner Molly care, you’d also appreciate this species for its wide variety of colors, structure, and temperament.
They’re a peaceful aquarium fish species that thrives with other aquatic pets with similar temperaments and environmental needs. As a new aquarist, you can choose any of the molly fish types in this guide and begin your pet-keeping journey.
