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White Molly
Poecilia sphenops
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii
Variety of Molly · white
📍 Central America
The White Molly is a solid white or platinum color morph, sometimes called the Platinum Molly in its purer forms. Hardy and peaceful, it thrives in well-planted community tanks and tolerates slightly brackish water.
Care Guide
Diet
White Mollies are omnivorous and thrive on a varied diet of high-quality flake food, small pellets, and regular supplements of blanched vegetables like zucchini and spinach. Feed small amounts once daily, adjusting portions so food is consumed within 2-3 minutes. Occasional frozen foods such as brine shrimp or daphnia provide beneficial nutrition and encourage natural foraging behavior.
Behavior
White Mollies are peaceful, active swimmers that spend most of their time in mid-water levels, though they occasionally browse near the substrate and plants. They are social fish that do best in small groups or pairs and exhibit minimal aggression toward other peaceful species. Males may display mild territorial behavior, but this rarely escalates to serious conflict in adequately sized tanks.
Breeding
White Mollies are livebearers that breed readily in captivity, with females producing 20-100 fry every 4-6 weeks once mature. Breeding requires no special conditions beyond stable water parameters and adequate food; however, fry survival is low in community tanks due to predation unless dense vegetation or a separate rearing tank is provided. Controlling population is often more challenging than encouraging breeding.
Tank Mates
Similar size, peaceful temperament, and compatible water requirements make them ideal companions
Fellow livebearers with nearly identical care needs and peaceful, compatible behavior
Small, peaceful schooling fish that coexist well with mollies in established, planted tanks
Hardy plant that provides shelter and won't be uprooted by mollies' activity
Peaceful invertebrate that helps control algae without competing for food or space
Common Diseases
Fin Rot
Frayed, discolored, or deteriorating fins; lethargy; loss of appetite
Perform 25% water changes every 2-3 days, maintain water quality above 6.5 pH, and treat with aquarium salt (1 teaspoon per 5 gallons) or antibacterial medication if severe
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, scratching against objects, rapid breathing, clamped fins
Raise temperature gradually to 28-29°C, increase aeration, and treat with ich medication or salt therapy; maintain treatment for 7-10 days
Velvet Disease
Fine golden or rust-colored dust on body, lethargy, rapid gill movement, loss of appetite
Dim lighting, raise temperature to 28-30°C, and treat with copper-based medication or formalin following product instructions carefully
Constipation
Bloated appearance, reduced activity, lack of feces, loss of appetite
Increase water temperature slightly, offer blanched peas or fasting for 1-2 days, and ensure varied diet with adequate fiber
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Varieties
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