Liberty molly

Poecilia salvatoris

A silvery shortfin molly with orange-red male fins.

The male has a silver-blue sheen, an orange-red dorsal with pale and dark areas, and orange-red in its rounded tail. Female and stock colours differ.

Adult length: Up to 7.6 cm
Lifespan: 3–5 years

Natural habitat: Recorded natively in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, with a preference for swimming near the surface in the wild.

Pursuit and bullying occur.

View comparison →

Appearance and identification

P. salvatoris was historically treated as a variant of P. sphenops, so older accounts and trade names are confused. The male's multicoloured dorsal is a recognition cue.