List of 40+ Molly Fish Species & Varieties by Colors & Body Patterns

Species and their Classification

Most of the people usually consider all the types of mollies belong to only one specific species, but they have approximately more than 40 species found today. While the main species of mollies are categorized into three groups:

1. Poecilia latipinna – This is the first and most common type of molly fish proved to be the most productive wildlife breeders. It is the species of sailfin mollies that are usually found in the coastal waters of the southeast United States and all around the Gulf of Mexico. As they live in coastal water so they have strong acceptance for the salty or brackish water and can also be found in the oceans.
2. Poecilia sphenops – This is the short-finned molly, best and easiest fish available for the beginners and is commonly found in the aquarium trade because they can easily adjust in the community or home aquariums/tanks. They commonly exist in the regions of Central America, Mexico, and northern South America. Just like sailfin molly, they can also survive in strong salt waters and live well in both the fresh and brackish aquariums and tanks.
3. Poecilia velifera – The third species, Mexican sailfin molly, is even rarer to keep in home aquariums by the hobbyists than the sailfin or short-finned mollies. Because these are difficult to breed in aquariums while they live well in outdoors and ponds. This species found in the wild aquatic areas of Yucatan in Mexico. Like the other two species, they can also survive in tough brackish water conditions.

List Of other Species:

Short Details about varieties of mollies:

Mollies have a lot of variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. The fact is they don’t actually have that much variety centuries ago. Depending on some other factors mollies can be categorized as follows:

Mollies Variations by Color:

Molly fishes had a lot of beautiful and unique color variations especially coming out as a result of selective breeding.

But mollies usually have white, black and orange as their three primitive colors and all the other color combination coming out are from these three. Some of the variations are:

Variations by body Shape, fin Patterns & Breeded species:

You might be thinking that How They Have That Much Variety Now?

This is due to the processes of selective breeding.

In this process, different kinds of mollies breed with each other to produce totally new kinds of offspring adopting the nature, color, size, and features of both the parent mollies and hence producing an amazing new one.

#1: Black Molly Fish

These are farm-raised mollies from the origin of Singapore. They have pure velvety black color, and some of them also have golden and silver patches, but this is quite rare. They require a 30-gallon tank. Their food portion consists of flake food, brine shrimp, algae, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex.

#2: Golden Sailfin Molly

have orange and golden colored patterns. It requires a 20 to 30-gallon tank for their growth and proper intake of oxygen. Their foodstuff includes mosquito larvae, algae-based flake food, brine shrimp, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex.

#3: Dalmatian Molly

well known by the names of Marbled Sailfin Molly Fish or Marbled Molly Fish. They have white and black scale patterns. It requires a 30-gallon tank for them because they enjoy living in heavily planted tanks. Their appetites include algae-based flake food, brine shrimp, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex.

#4: Platinum Lyretail Molly

are Also recognized by the names of Mexican Lyretail Molly, Giant Lyretail Molly or Yucatan Molly Fish and often merely by Lyretail Molly Fish. They have platinum colored patterns which are very attractive and make them unique. It also requires a 30-gallon tank and algae-based flake food, brine shrimp, freeze-dried bloodworms, vegetables and tubifex as their food items.

#5: Balloon Mollies

Balloon belly mollies come in a variety of color combinations like white, yellow and black. They have a lyre-shaped caudal fin larger on a male while smaller on the female. They also require approximately 20 to 30-gallon tank for proper intake of oxygen. Their appetites include vegetables, algae-based flake food, brine shrimp, freeze-dried bloodworms, and tubifex.

#6: Black Sailfin Molly

Black Sailfin Molly can also be known by the names of

• Giant Sailfin Molly,
• Mexican Sailfin Molly,
• and most commonly by Sailfin Molly.

It belongs to the family of Poecilia latipinna. They have a peaceful temperament and require a moderate care level. They have a pure black color and an average size of 1.5 to 2.5 inches.

#7: Gold Dust Molly

Gold Dust Molly belongs to the Poecilia sphenops. It’s a perfect option for the people who love colored fishes. They have a very beautiful color variation in black and gold.

I personally love Gold Dust Mollies the most.

They require hard and alkaline water conditions. They also require a lot of space to swim easily. They have an approximate size of 1 to 5 inches.

#8: Gold Doubloon Molly

Gold Doubloon Molly belongs to Poecilia latipinna, the Harlequin Sailfin Molly. They have an interesting color combination of gold and black.

Most of their habits belong to the Gold Dust Mollies. Approximate aquarium size of Gold Doubloon Molly is about 1-1/4 inches to 2 inches but they can grow as much as 5 inches in size.

#9: Platinum Lyretail Molly

Platinum Lyretail Molly is also called as

• Giant Lyretail Molly,
• Mexican Lyretail Molly,
• Yucatan Molly,
• and most of the time only as Lyretail Molly.

They belong to the Poecilia velifera. They have a very unique color combination of platinum/gold just like the mixing of white and yellow colors. The approximate size for purchasing Platinum Lyretail Mollies is 1.5 to 2.5 inches while they can grow up to 5 inches.

#10: Black Lyretail Molly

Black Lyretail Molly belongs to the Poecilia latipinna. It exists in black color with white highlights on their fins and a caudal fin of lyre-shaped. They prefer feeding on algae as well as meaty food, bloodworms, and brine shrimp. They exist in a size ranging from about 1 inch to 5 inches.

#11: Dalmatian Molly

The Dalmatian Molly also knew by the name of Marbled Molly belongs to the family of Poecilia latipinna. They have a beautiful hybrid combination of the black and white body. They need a good filtration system. The maximum size to which they can grow is 5 inches.

#12: Harlequin Sailfin Molly

Harlequin Sailfin Mollies belong to the family of Poecilia latipinna. Theses mollies have some amazing patches of black, gold, and white on their skin. They require very well-planted aquariums with a wide swimming space.

They also love to have frozen mosquito larvae and other aquatic invertebrates’ treats once in a while.

Their approximate size is from 2 to 3 inches and can grow up to the size of 6 inches.

#13: Marble Lyretail Molly

Marble Lyretail Mollies are also known by the names of

• Giant Lyretail Molly,
• Mexican Lyretail Molly,
• Yucatan Molly,
• and mostly by Lyretail Molly simply.

Marble Lyretail Mollies belong to the family of Poecilia sphenops.

I consider this to be the most peaceful addition in my aquarium. I just love their marble textured black and white color combination.

Marble Lyretail Mollies are very sensitive to their water conditions. They prefer to live in hard and alkaline conditions of water rather than acidic and soft water. The approximate size to purchase Marble Lyretail Mollies should be 1 to 1.5 inches.

That’s all…

These are some of the most popular molly types. Apart from this, they had a lot of varieties and species. But approximately all the mollies have the same temperaments and nature. Female mollies are a bit more peaceful than those of male mollies.

I suggest you put only 1 male molly against 4 mollies. Male mollies can easily breed with the other mollies and keeping less male mollies would actually make your aquariums temperament more peaceful.

Well, I didn’t mean to say that male mollies are very aggressive, but yeah they are aggressive than females. Actually, male mollies have a bossy nature so you can now imagine that as many bosses try to cover up the situation they will get even messier and can disturb the environment of your aquarium or tank.