{"product_id":"black-molly-poecilia-sphenops","title":"Black Molly | Poecilia sphenops","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Black Molly is one of the most popular livebearers of all - a solid, velvety-black fish that is sociable, hardy and full of personality. Easygoing and quick to breed, it thrives best in harder, slightly mineral-rich water and grazes algae happily. Females grow noticeably larger than males, reaching around 12cm, so give them a bit of room.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePoecilia sphenops is native to the fresh and brackish coastal waters, streams and estuaries of Central America and Mexico, where the water is typically hard, alkaline and often carries some salt. It is at home in warm, mineral-rich, sometimes brackish conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA stocky, deep-bodied livebearer in uniform jet black. Males stay smaller at around 8cm with a pointed gonopodium (modified anal fin), while females are rounder and can reach around 12cm. The black form is a captive-developed strain of the short-finned molly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and social, though active and occasionally a little pushy at feeding time. Best kept in groups with a good ratio of females to males. An excellent community fish where the water is hard and alkaline enough to suit it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA largely herbivorous omnivore that constantly grazes algae. Provide a vegetable-rich diet with quality flake or pellet, algae wafers and blanched greens, plus occasional brine shrimp or daphnia. Plenty of plant matter keeps the digestion healthy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMollies do best in hard, alkaline water at 24-28°C, and weaken quickly in soft or acidic conditions - a common cause of the shimmies, fungus and clamped fins. Some keepers add a little aquarium salt, and all morphs appreciate mineral-rich water. Provide good filtration, gentle current and some algae to graze. Give them space, as this is a bigger livebearer than it first appears.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery easy. Females are livebearers, producing broods of large, well-developed fry every four to six weeks once mated. Dense planting helps fry survive, or raise gravid females separately for higher yields.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePoecilia sphenops\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack Molly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCentral America and Mexico\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 12cm (females; males ~8cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (community)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e90 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (largely herbivorous)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24-28°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.0-8.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15-30 dGH (hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater; tolerates slightly brackish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard-water community and livebearer tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes (grazes soft algae, not plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlaties, swordtails, guppies, larger peaceful tetras, rainbowfish, Corydoras and bristlenose catfish - ideally other hard-water fish that share its conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoft-water specialists that need very different conditions, fin-nippers, and aggressive or much larger fish. Avoid keeping in soft, acidic water, in which mollies struggle and sicken.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232790167843,"sku":"AA3829","price":9.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232790200611,"sku":null,"price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Black_Molly_16502365-8663-4df0-938d-c779b5dcb1a9.jpg?v=1781697963","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/black-molly-poecilia-sphenops","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}