Liberty molly
Poecilia salvatoris
Also known as Salvador molly, El Salvador molly
FreshwaterBrackishFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F
- 22–28°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 3.9 in
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 24 gal
- 90 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Easy
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Origin
- Native to Pacific slope coastal streams and lagoons of El Salvador and Guatemala, in fresh to slightly brackish water.
Overview
Keep in 90 liters or larger at 22 to 28 C, pH 7.5 to 8.5, in hard water, with a little marine salt tolerated but not required. Feed a vegetable heavy diet of spirulina flake, algae, and blanched greens with some frozen foods. Males are aggressive to each other, so keep one male with several females, or use a big tank with room for a few males and many females. A good hard water molly for keepers who want wild color rather than fancy strains.
In the wild
A short finned molly whose males flash red, blue, and white in the fins, colors that earned the liberty name. It comes from warm coastal Central American streams and tolerates a little salt. Keep a group in a hard water tank with plants, algae, and open swimming space. Warm, hard, clean water brings out the best color.
Good to know
Poecilia salvatoris is a true molly, closely related to the shortfin molly, reaching about 10 cm. Males display intense red, blue, and white fin markings and spar with each other for status. Like other mollies it grazes heavily on algae and benefits from a vegetable rich diet.
Did you know
The red, white, and blue in a displaying male's fins are what give the liberty molly its patriotic sounding name.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Liberty molly is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Yellow giant rabbit snail
Tylomelania sarasinorum
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Red tail sicyopterus
Sicyopterus lagocephalus
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Blue-eyed livebearer
Priapella intermedia
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Sondhi danio
Devario sondhii
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Apple snail
Pomacea canaliculata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)64–81°F (18–27°C)
Candy stripe goby
Awaous flavus
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Liberty molly need?
A Liberty molly needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Liberty molly need?
A Liberty molly is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
How big does a Liberty molly get?
An adult Liberty molly reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
Related species
4.7 in (12 cm)24 gal (90 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Black molly
Poecilia sphenops
4.7 in (12 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)24 gal (90 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)Sailfin molly
Poecilia latipinna
4.7 in (12 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)
5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (113 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Giant sailfin molly
Poecilia velifera
5.9 in (15 cm) · 30 gal (113 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)Gill's molly
Poecilia gillii
3.9 in (10 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)32 gal (120 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Shortfin molly
Poecilia mexicana
4.3 in (11 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)Amazon molly
Poecilia formosa
3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)