Fun Common Molly Facts For Kids

It’s quite possible that you have seen the common molly, which is also known by the name of short-finned molly. This peaceful fish hails from the freshwater environments of Mexico, but it’s most popular as an aquarium fish. It’s one of the many molly species that are widely found around the world. Mollies are available in a number of attractive colors, but the beautiful black molly fish is a favorite among people. Often sold as a starter fish, the molly is easy to maintain and doesn’t have any fuss regarding any foods. While in the wild, the molly is known for being a hardy fish, and even though it doesn’t have a long lifespan, the fish makes sure to breed and reproduce to fill an area with babies. In its natural habitat, the main foods consumed by this fish include algae and aquatic invertebrates. People are often interested in mollies because it’s a livebearing fish, so the females give birth to babies instead of spawning eggs. So, keep reading to learn more about this interesting fish species that has made it to the homes of many people all around the world.For more relatable content, check out these bonito fish facts and rainbow trout facts for kids.

What do they prey on? Aquatic invertebrates

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 40-100

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 3.2-4.7 in (8-12 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Various

Skin Type Wet and slimy scales

What were their main threats? Raccoons, Bullfrogs, American Alligators, Snowy Egrets

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Aquariums, Freshwater Environments

Locations Mexico, South America , Worldwide As Pets, USA (native)

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Poecilia

Class Actinopterygii

Family Poeciliidae

Common Molly Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a common molly? The common molly is a type of freshwater fish that’s especially known for being an aquarium pet.What class of animal does a common molly belong to? Just like many other fish species, common mollies belong to the class Actinopterygii.How many common mollies are there in the world?We do know that these fishes have a really high population because of their ability to survive. And, because of diverse breeding, mollies have made it to all parts of the world. Hence, we cannot really state the exact number of mollies present in this world.Where does a common molly live? Mollies are native to Mexico, but these fish are also found in the wilds of the southern USA and South America. However, because of the huge aquarium trade, this species of mollies have reached all around the world.What is a common molly’s habitat? In the wild, the common mollies are mainly found in freshwater habitats. And, this is described as a tropical fish because of its wild habitat. However, at times this freshwater fish will spend time in brackish water and then move on to its usual habitat. As this species is quite hardy, it can be found living and breeding in different water conditions. The molly fish has been found living in coastal areas and even in swamps. When kept in an aquarium, the molly fish is known for being stable, even in a community tank.Who do common mollies live with?Mollies prefer to stay in groups, and in the wild, you can often find it moving in huge schools. When it comes to aquariums, mollies are peaceful fish, and they can be kept in a community tank.How long does a common molly live?The average lifespan of a molly fish is around three to five years. And, keeping them in a good aquarium with proper water parameters will give the fish a longer lifespan.How do they reproduce?It’s a common thing to find pregnant female mollies in an aquarium, and the fish can be easily spotted because of their round bellies. Male mollies are a tad aggressive during breeding and often sneak attack on females to fertilize the eggs. One of the unique things about the molly fish is that it’s a livebearing species, so the females carry the eggs inside its body after the fertilization is complete. It takes 35-45 days for the eggs to hatch, and then the females give birth. To avoid other fishes troubling the young, you can create a separate breeding tank. Also, as soon as the young are born, you need to transfer it to a different tank, or the females may end up eating the babies. Females tend to give birth to up to 100 young at a time.What is their conservation status?According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, common molies have been given the status of Least Concern.Common Molly Fun FactsWhat do common mollies look like?Be it in the doctor’s office or at a pet store, most of us are aware of how a molly fish looks. In their natural habitats, a molly usually has a flat silvery body with slightly yellow fins. However, selective breeding with other molly species and even guppies have led to different variants of the molly fish. The most common ones found in aquariums include the black molly fish that has an entirely black body. But, the black molly can at times have red fins. Other than that, the most interesting species has to be the balloon molly that’s known for its rounded belly, and it also comes in assorted colors from yellow to speckled.Another variant is the Dalmatian molly fish that are black and white, just like the eponymous dogs. The white molly is also in demand because of its silvery-white body. However, among all the different variants, the lyretail molly has to be the most unique as it has a modified caudal or tail fin. Female mollies also have a fanned anal fin compared to the short anal fin present in the male mollies.How cute are they?Molly fish are extremely cute because of their small body and beautifully rounded belly. However, the common mollies are less cute compared to the interesting Odessa barb.How do they communicate?As mollies are fishes, we are yet to discover the exact ways in which the animal communicates. However, it is theorized that fishes can communicate through smell, touch, and even electrical impulses. However, you can understand the state of your pet mollies by closely observing their body movement and behavior in the tank. If your molly fish tend to hide behind things, then it may mean that it is being bullied by tank mates.How big is a common molly? The average body size of the common mollies tends to be around 3.2-4.7 in (8-12 cm). And, the female molly is a little larger than the male. Compared to this species, another popular aquarium fish, the cherry barb, has a body size of around 1.6-2 in (4.1-5.1 cm), making the molly a larger fish.How fast can a common molly swim?We don’t have any data about the swimming speed of this species. However, if you find your molly frantically swimming inside the aquarium, it might be a sign of stress.How much does a common molly weigh?We are yet to know about the exact weight of these mollies, but they tend to have a light body because of their small size.What are the male and female names of the species?There are no separate names for the male and female of this fish species.What would you call a baby common molly?A baby common molly is called a fry.What do they eat? When kept in an aquarium, mollies will feed on flakes and pellets. But, in their natural freshwater habitat, mollies have a diet of algae, aquatic plants, and aquatic invertebrates. The diet of mollies is also rich in zoobenthos and detritivores. Many people also feed aquarium mollies with bloodworms and brine shrimp.Are they dangerous?No, these tiny fishes aren’t dangerous to human beings and neither to other aquatic animals living in their freshwater habitats. Mollies are great tank mates and are known to get along with several species of aquarium fish.Would they make a good pet?Yes, the molly fish is a pet that is easy to care for, and it’s one of the commonly found fish species that are kept in a tank. The minimum tank size for keeping the molly fish is around 10 gal (37.8 l), but you may increase the tank size based on the number of fishes you plan to get. As it’s a peaceful fish, you can create a community tank with guppy fish, mollies, sailfin molly, barb, tetras, and other similar species. Bigger species like cichlids should be avoided as they can attack the molly fish and even nip on the fins.The molly fish likes to feed on algae, but when kept in a tank, it will eat food like fish pellets and flakes as well as bloodworms. While setting up a tank for a molly fish, make sure to include live plants as well as a potent filter to keep the water clean and fresh. As a tropical fish, the tank of a molly fish needs to have a temperature of around 72-78 F (22.2-25.6 C). And, even though some people prefer brackish water for their mollies, we will recommend you to stick with freshwater with a hardness of around 20-30 KH.Did you know…Even though the sailfin molly is often clubbed with a common molly, it’s a different species. The sailfin molly gets its name from the unique dorsal fin, which has a sail-like appearance. And, in the wild, the molly fish often breeds with other members of the Poecilia family, including the sailfin molies.Common molly males have a gonopodium or a modified fin that is used to transfer sperm into the females quickly.As mollies are school-based fish, a single molly should never be left alone, and rather you should keep at least four to five mollies in a single tank to keep everyone happy.A unique trait of mollies is to give birth at night, so you’ll often wake up to mind that the tank is full of babies. Mollies are also great at hiding from you when it is pregnant.Are common mollies endangered?No, common mollies aren’t endangered. In fact, this fish species has the ability to survive in the worst of water conditions, and these mollies can rapidly grow their families. Currently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the common mollies under the status of Least Concern.What do common mollies do for the ecosystem?Even though it isn’t known what these mollies do for their natural ecosystem, but the fish is widely available to keep in aquariums. Moreover, common mollies are also known for their diet of mosquito larvae which is especially helpful in tropical countries to reduce the breeding of mosquitoes.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish from our interesting koi facts and surprising brook trout facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable molly fish coloring pages.Second image by Hugo Torres.

What type of animal is a common molly?

The common molly is a type of freshwater fish that’s especially known for being an aquarium pet.

Fun Common Molly Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Aquatic invertebrates

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 40-100

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 3.2-4.7 in (8-12 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Various

Skin Type Wet and slimy scales

What were their main threats? Raccoons, Bullfrogs, American Alligators, Snowy Egrets

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Aquariums, Freshwater Environments

Locations Mexico, South America , Worldwide As Pets, USA (native)

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Poecilia

Class Actinopterygii

Family Poeciliidae

Fun Common Molly Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Aquatic invertebrates

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 40-100

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 3.2-4.7 in (8-12 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Various

Skin Type Wet and slimy scales

What were their main threats? Raccoons, Bullfrogs, American Alligators, Snowy Egrets

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Aquariums, Freshwater Environments

Locations Mexico, South America , Worldwide As Pets, USA (native)

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Poecilia

Class Actinopterygii

Family Poeciliidae

Fun Common Molly Facts For Kids

What do they prey on? Aquatic invertebrates

What do they eat? Omnivore

Average litter size? 40-100

How much do they weigh? N/A

How long are they? 3.2-4.7 in (8-12 cm)

How tall are they? N/A

What do they look like? Various

Skin Type Wet and slimy scales

What were their main threats? Raccoons, Bullfrogs, American Alligators, Snowy Egrets

What is their conservation status? Least Concern

Where you’ll find them? Aquariums, Freshwater Environments

Locations Mexico, South America , Worldwide As Pets, USA (native)

Kingdom Animalia

Genus Poecilia

Class Actinopterygii

Family Poeciliidae