Dalmatian Molly Care Guide
The Dalmatian molly is an aquarium colour form of Poecilia sphenops, a hardy livebearer from Mexico and Central America with a white body and black spots.
Overview
The Dalmatian molly is an aquarium-bred colour form of Poecilia sphenops, a livebearing fish of the family Poeciliidae described by Valenciennes in 1846. The wild species occurs in Mexico and Central America. The Dalmatian variety has a white body irregularly marked with black spots, recalling the coat of a Dalmatian dog; the underlying biology follows that of the wild short-finned molly.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poeciliidae
- Genus: Poecilia
- Scientific name: Poecilia sphenops
- Author: Valenciennes, 1846
- Aquarium form: Dalmatian molly (colour variety)
Habitat
According to FishBase, Poecilia sphenops ranges from Mexico to Colombia and inhabits freshwater and brackish waters. Wikipedia describes it living in rivers, ponds, lagoons, roadside ditches and creeks across the Atlantic and Pacific slopes, and tolerating a wide range of conditions. It is a benthopelagic, non-migratory fish.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F); FishBase reports an 18-28 °C range
- pH: 7.5-8.5 (FishBase 7.5-8.2)
- GH: 12-30 °dGH (FishBase 11-30 dH)
- Size: 6-10 cm (FishBase max 7.5 cm SL)
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
The species is an omnivore. FishBase reports that adults feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter, and that in captivity they consume green algae and dried foods. Wikipedia notes algae and diatoms as dietary staples in the wild. A diet that includes vegetable matter suits this grazing fish.
Compatibility
It is a peaceful, diurnal fish of the middle water column. Because it prefers hard, alkaline water, it is best kept with other hard-water species and mollies rather than soft-water fish. It thrives in groups and benefits from the addition of some salt-tolerant or brackish-tolerant tank mates where parameters overlap.
Breeding
Poecilia sphenops is an ovoviviparous livebearer. FishBase reports broods of 20 to 150 young after a gestation of about 28 days, and Wikipedia gives up to 150 young after roughly a month. Fry are born free-swimming and can be reared on fine prepared foods.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 22 March 2018). The wild species is widespread, and the Dalmatian form is produced entirely within the aquarium trade.