Orange Tail Black Lyretail Molly (Poecilia sphenops)

The Orange Tail Black Lyretail Molly (Poecilia sphenops) is a jet black molly with an orange tail that ends in long lyre points at the top and bottom. The contrast makes it stand out in a planted tank, and like other mollies it is peaceful, active and always looking for food. It is a beginner fish once the water is right, and that means hard, alkaline water. Browse the rest of our freshwater fish and supplies.

Care Guide

• Tank size: starts in a 20 gallon, plan on 30 or more for a group. Mollies are active swimmers with a high bioload.
• Water: 72 to 82°F, pH 7.5 to 8.5, and hard water. Black mollies are the most sensitive mollies to soft water and cold, and both show up fast as clamped fins and shimmying.
• Diet: omnivore with a real need for plant matter. Feed a quality flake plus spirulina or algae foods, and they will graze soft algae in the tank.
• Temperament: peaceful with other fish. Males chase females constantly, so if you keep males, give each one several females.
• Fins: the long lyre points are a target for fin nippers and can tear on sharp decor, so choose tankmates and decor with that in mind.
• Watch for: shimmying, a side to side wobble in place. It almost always means the water is too soft, too cold, or dirty.

Specifications

Compatibility

Black mollies fit a hard water community: Red Wag Platies, Calico Showa Swordtails, other mollies, and Bristlenose Plecos on the bottom. Racetrack Nerite Snails handle algae on the glass without bothering anyone.

Keep them away from fin nippers like tiger barbs and serpae tetras, which shred lyretail fins. Soft water fish such as many wild tetras and dwarf cichlids want different water, so they are a poor match. Very small fish and shrimp fry can get eaten.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Xtreme Community Crave Krill/Spirulina Flakes as the daily staple flake
• Xtreme Spirulina Flakes to keep plant matter in the diet
• Hikari Mini Algae Wafers or Repashy Soilent Green as a vegetable treat a few times a week
• Seachem Prime for every water change
• Fritz GH Test Kit to check your hardness, then Seachem Replenish or Seachem Alkaline Buffer if your water runs soft

FAQ

Will the orange tail stay orange?
Usually, but the amount of orange varies from fish to fish and can shift as it grows. Good food and stable water bring out the best color, and stress or poor water dulls it.

Why is my black molly shimmying or sitting with clamped fins?
Black mollies show stress faster than other mollies. Shimmying almost always points to soft water, a temperature drop or dirty water. Test GH, pH and ammonia, check the heater, and do a water change.

Do mollies need salt?
No. Mollies tolerate brackish water, but they do not need salt in a freshwater tank. Hard, alkaline water is what matters. If your tap water is soft, raise the hardness instead.

Can it live with guppies and platies?
Yes. Mollies, guppies, platies and swordtails all like the same hard water and peaceful company. Just avoid fin nippers, since the lyre points on the tail are easy targets.

How big does it get?
About 3 to 4.5 inches as an adult, bigger than a guppy or platy. Plan the tank for the adult size, not the size at pickup.