Lyretail Molly Care Guide
The Lyretail Molly is a selectively bred livebearer derived from Poecilia sphenops, a hardy molly of Central America that prefers hard, alkaline water.
Overview
The Lyretail Molly is a selectively bred ornamental molly with an extended lyre-shaped caudal fin, derived from Poecilia sphenops. The molly is a hardy, adaptable livebearer of Central America. Many fancy molly strains are the product of long-running selective breeding, and the precise ancestry of fancy lines is documented as disputed.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poeciliidae
- Genus: Poecilia
- Scientific name: Poecilia sphenops var. Lyretail
- Base species: Poecilia sphenops
- Note: the lyretail form is a captive-bred ornamental variety, not a separate species
Habitat
The base species occurs in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras on both Atlantic and Pacific slopes. It inhabits both fresh and brackish waters and tolerates a wide range of temperatures and conditions in the wild.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 7.5-8.5
- GH: 12-30 °dGH (hard, alkaline water)
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
A highly adaptable omnivore. In the wild it consumes algae and diatoms, phytoplankton, rotifers, crustaceans, protozoa and insect larvae. In the aquarium it browses on green algae and readily accepts dried foods, which should include vegetable content.
Compatibility
A peaceful mid-water fish well suited to hard-water community tanks. It is best combined with other hard-water livebearers and species that share its alkaline requirements. Soft-water species are not compatible because of the differing water chemistry.
Breeding
A livebearer that produces broods of live young after a gestation of roughly one month, with up to about 150 young reported. Reproduction is straightforward when both sexes are present, and no specific spawning trigger is required.