All fish / Poeciliidae

Maylandi molly

Poecilia maylandi

Also known as mayland's molly, balsas molly, maylandi, poecilia maylandi

A plain-looking wild molly from western Mexico, with a silvery to olive body marked by rows of small dark spots and yellowish tints on the fins of males. It is kept mainly by livebearer enthusiasts who want to maintain wild-type Poecilia species rather than ornamental strains.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

7 to 8.2

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Group of 6 or more with more females than males

Diet

Omnivore: algae, vegetable flakes, spirulina, plus small live and frozen foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mexico (Balsas river basin, Pacific slope)

Breeding

A livebearer that gives birth to fully formed fry every four weeks or so after internal fertilisation. Breeding is easy in captivity, and fry survive best with dense plants or a separate rearing tank.

Good to know

Rarely seen in the general trade, so keep it apart from other mollies to avoid hybridisation and preserve pure lines. Prefers hard, alkaline water and plenty of plant matter in the diet.