Dalmatian Molly Molly
Poecilia sphenops
About this strain
White base coloration scattered with irregular black spots and blotches — every individual is uniquely patterned, which gives this variety a lot of visual personality in a group. The spotting should be bold and well-defined; avoid fish where the black has bled into muddy gray patches, as that typically means the strain has weakened. Dalmatians tend to be slightly more light-sensitive during acclimation than plain-colored mollies, so dim the tank when introducing new arrivals. A group of six or more shows off the pattern variation nicely and looks striking against dark substrate.
Origin
Developed through selective breeding in commercial fish farms, most notably in Florida and Southeast Asia, gaining widespread hobby popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. Exact originator is unclear, as multiple breeders produced similar spotted strains independently.