Our Guide To Keeping Gill's Molly Fish

1. About Fish Species:

   • Scientific name: Poecilia gillii
   • Common name: Gill's Molly
   • Family: Poeciliidae
   • Origin: Central America, including Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama
   • Adult length: Up to around 10 cm
   • Lifespan: 3 to 5 years
   • Diet: Omnivore with strong herbivorous and detritivorous tendencies
   • Care Level: Easy to Moderate
   • Temperament: Peaceful but active

2. Tank Setup:

   • Gill's Mollies do best in a well-maintained aquarium with plenty of swimming room. A minimum tank size of around 90L is recommended for a small group.
   • Provide rocks, wood, and hardy plants to create cover, but also leave open areas for swimming. They are often found near the bottom browsing on surfaces.
   • This species can also tolerate a range of conditions and may adapt well to slightly brackish setups, though freshwater is suitable when maintained properly.

3. Water Parameters:

   • Gill's Mollies prefer neutral to slightly alkaline water, with a pH range of around 7.0 to 8.0.
   • Keep the water temperature between 24 to 28°C.
   • Moderately hard to hard water is usually best for long-term health.

4. Filtration and Water Flow:

   • A good quality filter is recommended to keep the water clean and stable.
   • Gentle to moderate water flow is suitable, although this species is naturally found in a variety of water conditions, including calmer areas.

5. Diet:

   • Gill's Mollies are omnivorous and should be offered a varied diet of quality flake, pellet, and algae-based foods.
   • They especially benefit from vegetable matter such as spirulina, blanched spinach, and courgette.
   • Occasional live or frozen foods such as daphnia, bloodworm, and brine shrimp can be offered to add variety.

6. Tank mates:

   • Gill's Mollies are generally peaceful and can be kept with other calm community fish of a similar size.
   • Suitable tank mates may include other livebearers, tetras, rasboras, Corydoras, and other non-aggressive species.
   • Avoid aggressive fish or species that may nip fins or outcompete them for food.

7. Behavior and Compatibility:

   • Gill's Mollies are active livebearers that spend much of their time grazing and exploring the aquarium.
   • They are social fish and are best kept in groups, with more females than males to reduce stress from male attention.
   • Because they are livebearers, they may breed regularly in the home aquarium when kept in good conditions.