Common name: Balloon Molly / Potbelly Molly

Scientific name: Poecilia latipinna

Family: Poeciliidae

Origin: Gulf of Mexico

Maximum size: 2.5 inches

Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons

Care: An easy fish for beginners. Leave open space at the top of the tank since these fish seem to be more top dwelling then anything else. Tank should have many hiding places but these spaces are more for fry then the adults. Keep 1 male for every 2 females. These fish come in a variety of colors and are very attractive in large numbers. Colors include but are not limited to pearl, dalmation, sunset, black, bronze, and marble. There are also lyretail balloon molly and sailfin balloon molly varieties. House with other peaceful community fish such as tetras, gourami, and other livebearers.

Feeding: Tropical flake, frozen, live, and freezedried foods are accepted. Very big eaters!

Sexing: Since these are big bellied fish it is sometimes hard to tell males from females. Females have a square stomach while males are more rounded. Also look for a pointed anal fin in males called a gonopodium. Females anal fins are rounded and resemble a fan.

Breeding: Just add water . These fish give birth to live young. Justation period for these fish is 50-60 days. Females can store sperm for long periods of time so even if you have no males in your tank your females still might continue to give birth every 2 months or so. Fry are easily raised on crushed flake food.

Comments: Since these fish are highly inbred the life expectancy is only a year to a year and a half. Fry also grow slower and are not of a sellable size until 6-8 months of age.

the fry do take a long time to grow. is their life expectancy really only 1.5 years? i have had my babies for about 1.5 years now, and a couple older ones for atleast 3 years.

well like the bio says they are highly inbred and i think they have a high track record for swim bladder problems being all stunted

the yellow mollie is pregnant and the white is the male, as you see the white (male) always fallows the female underneath so when she drops babies he will eat them this is why you need more females then males