Liberty Molly

About

The Liberty Molly (Poecilia salvatoris) is a livebearer native to El Salvador, making it one of the more geographically specific mollies you'll encounter in the hobby. Like most of its genus, it's a compact fish, topping out around two to three inches, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in personality. Males in particular can be genuinely quarrelsome with one another, and the species has a reputation for fin-nipping tankmates that are slow-moving or long-finned, so give some thought to who shares the tank. Keeping a single male with several females tends to reduce tension, and a well-decorated aquarium with plenty of visual breaks helps too. Despite that feisty streak, the Liberty Molly is otherwise a forgiving choice for newer keepers. It adapts well to a range of conditions and accepts a wide variety of foods without complaint. Like other mollies, it does best in hard, alkaline water that leans toward the neutral-to-basic side. Planted tanks suit it well, giving both cover and the occasional nibble of vegetable matter to supplement its diet. It's a species that rewards a little planning in stocking, but nothing that should put off a thoughtful beginner.