Mollies, also known as Sailfin and Lyretail Mollies, are widely known aquarium fish. They come in beautiful color varieties and sizes.
These fish species are easy to breed. The article offers detailed knowledge about the types, caring, and breeding tips for beginners.
Where Does Orange Molly Fish Come From?
The Orange Molly fish is native to the Southern United States and Central America regions. These freshwater fish are found in brackish water and saltwater bodies of Columbia.
Orange Molly Fish Appearance
An Orange Molly fish is a small aquatic fish that grows only up to 3 inches. Its bellies are orange, and its tails and fins are white. In perfect captivity, an Orange Molly’s lifespan can significantly increase to 5 years.
Molly fish belong to the Poeciliidae family (Poecilia genus) and are closely related to the Guppy fish in appearance.
Orange Molly Fish Tank Requirements
A good tank that holds 20 gallons of water is ideal for keeping them healthy and active. Large Orange Molly species require a 55-gallon fish tank.
The water temperature should be adjusted between 72 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It is better to install a water heater with a thermostat to adjust the temperature accordingly.
Orange Molly Fish Behavior
Orange Mollies are social fish that are highly regarded as community fish worldwide. They have a habit of chasing and nipping their tank mates’ fins, but they are otherwise peaceful fish.
How To Differentiate Between Male and Female Molly Fish?
Gender identification is easy in Orange Molly fish. The female has a fan-shaped anal fins. The males have a large Dorsal and caudal fins.
What Does Orange Molly Fish Love To Eat?
Mollies are omnivores, so they should eat a balance of frozen food like proteins, chopped vegetables, and a plant-based diet. Shrimps, worms, and algae are good options for feeding Orange Molly fish.
What About Orange Molly Fish Breeding?
Orange Mollies are livebearers. They love to breed, and an old Orange Molly can give birth to 60 Fry at a time. If you want them to breed, it is recommended that you keep one male and three females.
Male Mollies are aggressive towards females after mating so it’s better to separate them. To breed them properly, ensure the water parameters are thoroughly checked.
Orange Molly Fish Tank Mates
Tetras, Loaches, Danios, and Barbs are ideal tank mates for Orange Molly fish. Shrimps are not advised; they can become a delicious meal for Orange Molly.
What Are Molly Fish Types?
Here, I have mentioned common Molly species. All Molly species have many different colors and can enhance your fish tank’s surroundings.
Gold Dust Molly
Gold Dust Molly has a beautiful gold body with black spots. It is a peaceful species that can easily live with other tank mates.
They require easy to care. A 20-gallon tank is good enough because they only grow up to 4 inches long.
Common Black Molly
Common Black Mollies are completely black because of high amounts of dark pigments. In rare instances, people have seen these Molly species with yellow or silver spots on the dorsal fin and velvety black colors.
Water quality needs to be checked regularly to keep them healthy. A 30-gallon tank is recommended because they like to swim and play hide-and-seek.
Dalmatian Molly
They are easy to care for and can live in hardy water conditions. These fish can grow up to 4 inches, and a 20-gallon tank is good enough to keep them happy.
When provoked, the Dalmatian Molly never hesitates to show aggression. Their diet consists of high-quality pellets and flakes.
One thing to note is that these species are prone to Shimmies, a disease that destroys their bodies from side to side. To keep them healthy, water parameters should be checked on a regular basis.
Balloon Molly
A Balloon Molly has a unique shape: a round belly and arched back. They come in silver, black, yellow, orange, and white.
A good filtration system is necessary to keep them active and healthy. Place some plants in the tank as they occasionally love to nibble on it. They also use plants to hide from predators.
Balloon Molly are schooling fish, and it is better to keep them with 3-6 fish in a tank. They are peaceful fish and get along with their mates easily.
Black Sailfin Molly
The Black Sailfin Molly has a velvety black tone that distinguishes it from the Common Black Molly fish. It thrives on algae and tiny insects.
They can grow up to 5 inches in length, and a 30-gallon tank works best for them. You can keep 6 Black Sailfins fish in a tank at the same time.
Miscellaneous
Other than the above, you should know all other types of Molly fish,
- Liberty Molly
- Platinum Lyretail Molly
- Marble Lyretail Molly
- Yucatan Molly Fish
- Green Sailfin Molly
- Harlequin Sailfin Molly
- Red Sunset Molly
- Golden Sailfin Molly
They come in different colors because of selective breeding and hybridization.
Final Thoughts
Orange Mollies in their natural look, make your fish tank bright and colorful. The best thing is that they clean the tank by themselves. Still, you should monitor all parameters to ensure they don’t get diseases like Ich, etc.
