Dwarf molly

[emeraldking]

The dwarf molly (Poecilia chica) is a short finned.wild molly species from Mexico...
The name "dwarf molly" is a bit confusing. The molly itself belongs to the mid sized wild molly species. But the name "dwarf molly" refers to the short dorsal.
I'm keeping them together with my kallmani swordtails (Xiphophorus kallmani) which is a great combination.

 

[fish48]

p, chica are beautiful fish , picture don't do them justice they really need to be seen in the home aquarium to appreciate there true colour

 

[emeraldking]

p, chica are beautiful fish , picture don't do them justice they really need to be seen in the home aquarium to appreciate there true colour

The darkest male is also the most dominant male in there...

 

[Back in the fold]

Another live bearer I’ve never heard of or seen . Thanks for posting these pictures .

 

[emeraldking]

Some more pics...

 

[Colin_T]

Do they come in other colour forms?
Some of the shops and suppliers here sell "dwarf mollies" but they look like normal black, gold, silver and dalmation P. sphenops mollies. When I ask for a scientific name they won't give me one. I'm assuming they are using the dwarf name to try and suck people into buying a new type of molly, which is actually an old type that has been in the hobby for years, just given a new name.

 

[emeraldking]

Do they come in other colour forms?
Some of the shops and suppliers here sell "dwarf mollies" but they look like normal black, gold, silver and dalmation P. sphenops mollies. When I ask for a scientific name they won't give me one. I'm assuming they are using the dwarf name to try and suck people into buying a new type of molly, which is actually an old type that has been in the hobby for years, just given a new name.

These don't come in color forms.
These aren't the same as the socalled dwarf mollies offered through retail. This molly species is called "dwarf molly" because of the short fins. Sizewise they belong to the mid sized mollies. The scientific name "Poecilia chica" does mean "small Poecilia" . But as already been mentioned, the name "chica" refers to the short fins. And not to the body size.
The socalled commercial "dwarf mollies", are hybrids to start with. There's P.sphenops, P.velifera and P.latipinna influendes in there. So, giving a scientific name wouldn't be justified. A serious number of wholesalers will add a scientific name but that's just a marketing thing. To make things more interesting. Breeding forms made out of more than one species, are not allowed to carry a scientific name. But unfortunately that's not how the commercial trade works. Marketingwise, it's more interersting to them to add the incorrect names. That goes for scientific names and commercial names.