Liberty molly

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Liberty molly
Poecilia salvatoris 20190608.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Poeciliidae
Genus: Poecilia
Species:
P. salvatoris
Binomial name
Poecilia salvatoris
Regan, 1907

The liberty molly (Poecilia salvatoris) is a fish species from El Salvador. [1] It is one of the short fin molly species in the Poecilia sphenops complex, and had been often regarded as synonymous with P. sphenops until recently. [2] [3] [4]

Males and females are colored similarly, but the males' coloration is stronger. [3] The body is silvery but speckled with blue and orange. [3] The fins contain black and blue as well as either red or yellow. [3] The red color version is probably the source for the common name "liberty molly" as a result of the combination of red, white and blue colors. [3] Maximum length is about 3 inches (7.6 cm), with females generally larger than males. [3]

According to Dr. William T. Innes, who regarded the species as color variety of P. sphenops, the liberty molly was first imported for the aquarium hobby in 1935. [5] In the aquarium, the liberty molly can be aggressive towards other tankmates and nip the fins of other fishes in the tank. [3] [5] According to Innes, this aggressiveness and the loss of color intensity over captive generations led to the fish losing popularity in the hobby. [5] Males in particular are aggressive towards each other. [3] Tropical Fish Hobbyist recommends keeping the liberty molly in a species tank, in a ratio of at least two females per male, stating that three males and six females would be suitable in a 30-gallon aquarium. [3] The liberty molly is prone to jumping, and so the tank should be covered. [3] [5] It needs vegetable matter in its diet. [3]

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References

  1. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Poecilia salvatoris" in FishBase . August 2019 version.
  2. Freshwater and Marine Aquarium. 24 (10–12): 188.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Monks, N. (August 2011). "7 Forgotten Livebearers". Tropical Fish Hobbyist . Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  4. Bailey, M.; Sandford, G (1999). Aquarium Fish Identifier . Lorenz Books. p.  52. ISBN   9780754800101.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Innes, W. (1966). Exotic Aquarium Fishes (19th ed.). Metaframe. pp.  362, 574.