Black mollies are one of the most beloved and common aquarium fish. They are suitable for beginner aquarists, while at the same time they are breeding specialists with extensive experience. For everyone, they are equally interesting and easy to care for.
Black mollies in nature
This beautiful fish, mostly spotted with a velvety black tint, is found in the fresh waters of Central and South America. In Russia, fish is rarely found with a natural black color without splashes, since it was bred artificially.
What does black mollies look like?
This fish is relatively small in size: from 4 to 8 cm. Its body is streamlined and slightly flattened from the sides. Its head occupies 20% of the entire body area and large black eyes stand out on it. The fins of the fish attract attention due to their small size and bright black color. The anal fin of black mollies will help determine the sex of the fish. In females, it has a rounded shape, and in males, it is slightly pointed.
What are black mollies
Like any other fish, black mollies have varieties. They were withdrawn not so long ago - in the eighties of the last century.
Fork mollies get their name from the shape of the tail, which resembles a long black fork with two prongs. But the scarf mollies are distinguished by their long, chic tail, which flutters in the water like a silk scarf.
Caring for black mollies
Black mollies is an unpretentious fish and does not require special care. The only thing that needs to be done to protect the fish from disease is to keep the water temperature around 30 degrees Celsius. And of course, like any other fish, a water filter is required in the aquarium.
Mollies get along well with other peace-loving fish. Conflicts can arise with tiger barbs. The atmosphere in a school of fish is calmer when there are slightly fewer males than females.
You can feed them with any fish food, as well as plant and animal components. In addition to dry food, it is necessary to give the fish special vitamin supplements. And newborn fish need to be fed with "live dust", which is sold in pet stores and has various biological additives.
Black mollies can live in an aquarium, subject to the temperature regime, as well as equipping it with the necessary devices, for more than 5 years. Six months after birth, the fish enter puberty.
What is interesting about mollies
The bright black color of mollies during reproduction is preserved only if the fish are kept only of one color. If fish of different colors are crossed, then black loses its strength and small blotches appear on the body of the fish in the form of blurry spots of yellow or gray color.
