Liberty molly

Liberty molly
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Poeciliidae
Genus: Poecilia
Species: P. salvatoris
Binomial name
Poecilia salvatoris
(Regan, 1907)

The liberty molly (Poecilia salvatoris) is a fish species from El Salvador.[1] It is one of the short fin molly species in the Poecilia sphenops complex, and had been often regarded as a variety of P. sphenops until recently.[2][3][4]

Males and females are colored similarly, but the males' coloration is stronger.[3] The body is silvery but speckled with blue and orange.[3] The fins contain black and blue as well as either red or yellow.[3] The red color version is probably the source for the common name "liberty molly" as a result of the combination of red, white and blue colors.[3] Maximum length is about 3 inches (7.6 cm), with females generally larger than males.[3]

According to Dr. William T. Innes, who regarded the species as color variety of P. sphenops, the liberty molly was first imported for the aquarium hobby in 1935.[5] In the aquarium, the liberty molly can be aggressive towards other tankmates and nip the fins of other fishes in the tank.[3][5] According to Innes, this aggressiveness and the loss of color intensity over captive generations led to the fish losing popularity in the hobby.[5] Males in particular are aggressive towards each other.[3] Tropical Fish Hobbyist recommends keeping the liberty molly in a species tank, in a ratio of at least two females per male, stating that three males and six females would be suitable in a 30 gallon aquarium.[3] The liberty molly is prone to jumping, and so the tank should be covered.[3][5] It needs vegetable matter in its diet.[3]

References

  1. "Poecilia salvatoris". Fishbase. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  2. Freshwater and Marine Aquarium 24 (10-12): 188. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Monks, N. (August 2011). "7 Forgotten Livebearers". Tropical Fish Hobbyist. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  4. Bailey, M. & Sandford, G, (1999). Aquarium Fish Identifier. Lorenz Books. p. 52. ISBN 9780754800101.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Innes, W. (1966). Exotic Aquarium Fishes (19th ed.). Metaframe. pp. 362, 574.
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