Description

Black Lyretail Molly (Poecilia sphenops)

Elegant, peaceful, and endlessly active, the Black Lyretail Molly is a stunning addition to any community aquarium. With its deep, velvety black body and graceful lyre-shaped tail, this livebearer combines beauty with personality — making it a favourite among beginner and experienced aquarists alike.

🌊 Overview
Originating from Central and South America, mollies are hardy, adaptable fish found in both freshwater and brackish habitats. The Black Lyretail Molly is a selectively bred variant of the common molly (Poecilia sphenops), prized for its unique fin shape and bold, uniform black colouration. It’s an easy-care species that thrives in well-maintained aquariums and makes an excellent choice for peaceful community setups.

✨ Key Features & Benefits:

• ✔️ Striking Jet-Black Colouration – Adds contrast and elegance to planted or bright aquascapes.

• ✔️ Distinctive Lyre Tail – Gracefully extended fins give this molly a refined, flowing look.

• ✔️ Peaceful Community Fish – Gets along well with tetras, guppies, platies, corydoras, and other non-aggressive species.

• ✔️ Hardy & Adaptable – Suitable for a wide range of water conditions; ideal for beginners.

• ✔️ Livebearer – Gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs, making them fascinating to breed.

🐟 Behaviour & Compatibility
Black Lyretail Mollies are active swimmers that spend much of their time exploring all areas of the tank. They’re peaceful by nature but should be kept with similarly sized, gentle fish to avoid fin-nipping. A small group of three or more (one male with several females) helps reduce stress and encourages natural behaviour.

Avoid keeping males together in very small tanks, as mild territorial behaviour can occur during breeding.

🌿 Tank Requirements:

• Minimum Tank Size: 80 L

• Temperature: 24 – 28 °C

• pH: 7.2 – 8.2

• Hardness: Medium to hard water preferred

• Salinity: Optional small amount of aquarium salt (beneficial for health)

• Aquascape: Plants, driftwood, and open swimming space

💧 Water Quality & Care
Mollies prefer clean, well-oxygenated water. A small amount of aquarium salt (about one tablespoon per 20 L) can help replicate their natural brackish conditions and prevent common health issues. Perform regular partial water changes to maintain stability.

🍽️ Feeding
Omnivorous and easy to feed, Black Lyretail Mollies accept a variety of foods:

• High-quality flakes or pellets

• Spirulina or algae-based foods (they love grazing on biofilm)

• Frozen or live foods like brine shrimp and daphnia for protein variety

A balanced diet enhances their black colouration and promotes breeding health.

🪸 Breeding
Like other livebearers, female mollies give birth to fully formed fry after a gestation period of around 4–6 weeks. Provide dense plants or breeding traps to protect fry from being eaten by adults. Fry can be raised on powdered fry food or crushed flakes until large enough for the main tank.

💡 Did You Know?
The black pigmentation of Lyretail Mollies was developed through selective breeding, and some individuals can show subtle metallic or bluish undertones under aquarium lighting — especially in well-lit, clear water setups.

✨ Why Choose the Black Lyretail Molly?
Few fish combine such elegance, hardiness, and versatility. Their peaceful nature, vivid colour, and graceful swimming make them perfect for community aquariums, planted tanks, and display setups alike. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned aquarist, this is a fish that always stands out.

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👉 Add the Black Lyretail Molly (Poecilia sphenops) to your aquarium for a touch of timeless beauty, movement, and charm.

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