Half Black Gold Lyretail Molly
Half Black Gold Lyretail Molly (Poecilia sphenops) combines the half-black gold pattern with the lyretail fin mutation. Mollies are among the most adaptable and widely kept livebearers in the freshwater hobby — hardy, active, and available in an extraordinary range of color and fin forms. The lyretail fin mutation extends the upper and lower caudal fin rays into gracefully trailing filaments. Clean water and gentle filtration are important to maintain fin integrity — strong currents and poor water quality damage the extended rays.
Feeding & Care Tip: Sera Vipan Tropical Flakes and Hikari Mini Algae Wafers make excellent daily staples — mollies are significant algae grazers and the algae wafers mirror an important part of their natural diet. Supplement 2–3× per week with Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp, Hikari Frozen Daphnia, or Hikari Vibra Bites. For fry, Sera Micron Fry Food is an ideal first food.
Short-fin mollies are smaller and more compact than the sailfin forms. Many trade short-fin mollies carry mixed genetics from P. sphenops, P. latipinna, and other Poecilia species — accounting for the wide variety of color forms available. They are adaptable, hardy, and well-suited to community aquariums.
Keep in groups with two females for every male — this distributes male attention and significantly reduces stress on individual females. Compatible with most peaceful community fish. Mollies prefer hard, alkaline water and do less well in soft, acidic conditions. Mollies are enthusiastic algae grazers — one of the few aquarium fish that will readily consume blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), which most other fish ignore. This makes them genuinely useful as part of an aquarium maintenance team. Tank-raised mollies thrive in hard freshwater — aquarium salt is optional, not required for captive-bred stock.
Mollies are prolific livebearers — a female can produce 20–100 fry every 4–6 weeks. Females retain sperm, so a single mating results in multiple successive broods. Dense planting provides cover for fry. Sera Micron Fry Food is an excellent first food for newborn mollies.
Care & Ideal Parameters
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Temperament | Peaceful — active community fish |
| Typical Adult Size | 3.0–4.0 inches (7.5–10 cm) |
| Min. Group Size | 3 minimum — 2 females per male |
| Ideal Temp | 72–82°F (22–28°C) |
| Ideal pH | 7.0–8.5 |
| Ideal GH | 8–25 dGH |
| Ideal KH | 4–15 dKH |
| Staple Food | Sera Vipan Tropical Flakes; Hikari Mini Algae Wafers |
| Treat / Supplement | Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp; Hikari Frozen Daphnia; Hikari Vibra Bites |
| Origin | Central America and Caribbean (captive-bred strain) |
| Notes | Half-black gold pattern + lyretail. Clean water and gentle flow essential. |
