{"product_id":"silver-molly-poecilia-sphenops","title":"Silver Molly | Poecilia sphenops","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Silver Molly is the classic, easygoing livebearer in bright shimmering silver — sociable, hardy and full of personality. It grazes algae happily, breeds with ease and thrives in harder, mineral-rich water, making it a cheerful staple of the community tank at around 8–10 cm (larger females reaching a little more).\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Silver Molly is a colour form of Poecilia sphenops, a widespread livebearer of Central America and northern South America. In the wild it lives in warm, hard, often mineral-rich fresh and slightly brackish waters — coastal streams, ditches, lagoons and vegetated margins — grazing algae in the sunlit shallows.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA robust, slightly stocky body carries a clean, bright silver sheen. Males are smaller and slimmer with a rod-like gonopodium (modified anal fin), while females are larger and fuller-bodied. Its plain silver colouring is understated but catches the light beautifully in a well-lit tank.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeaceful, active and sociable, best kept in groups with a majority of females. It mixes well with other livebearers and peaceful community fish that appreciate hard, alkaline water. Males may spar mildly among themselves, but real aggression is uncommon.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn omnivore that relishes vegetable matter and algae. Offer a quality flake or granule with good plant and spirulina content, plus blanched vegetables and occasional frozen foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia. Grazing on algae keeps it healthy and helps control the tank.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 75 L, with 110 L or larger better for a group. Mollies need hard, alkaline water — pH 7.5–8.5, GH high — kept at 24–28 °C, with strong filtration and good oxygenation. Soft or acidic water weakens them, often shown by shimmying and clamped fins. It is generally plant safe, preferring to graze algae.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA prolific livebearer. Females deliver broods of free-swimming fry roughly every four to six weeks and can store sperm for several successive broods. Provide dense or floating plants for the fry to hide in, as adults will eat them. A mixed-sex group in good conditions will breed with no special effort.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePoecilia sphenops\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSilver Molly, Short-finned Molly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCentral America and northern South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 8–10 cm (females largest, occasionally to 12 cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (community)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e110 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore: algae, vegetable flake\/granules, blanched vegetables, frozen foods\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.5–8.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard, around 12–30 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater; tolerates slightly brackish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard-water community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other mollies, platies, swordtails, guppies, and other peaceful fish that appreciate hard, alkaline water, such as certain rainbowfish and larger, gentle tetras.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with aggressive or predatory fish, persistent fin-nippers, and soft-water species whose requirements conflict with the molly's need for hard, alkaline water.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232789971235,"sku":"AA3828","price":9.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232790004003,"sku":null,"price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Silver_Molly_8a6040ae-b86d-48af-b560-dff2f7b10cb2.jpg?v=1781697973","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/silver-molly-poecilia-sphenops","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}