Molly Who Thinks She's A Platy?

[Beth_Laubenthal]

After Charlie and Sunrise were starting a fight to the death, I was told to have 2 females for each of them. I was worried because Sunrise already killed another fish, Dusk. At this point, I had 2 otos, Charlie, Spot and Sunrise in my 10 gallon tank. The place that sold me the three females told me it was okay to have an overstocked tank providing my water chemistry stayed stable (and it has). I also have 11 fake plants, 2 caves and 3 pieces of fake moss in there. Tons of hiding spaces in there. I usually do 2 ten percent water changes a week. Since adding the females, the fighting has stopped (thank goodness).

I got Sunrise (sunset platy)two girl friends: a mickey mouse platy and a gold twin barred platy. He immediately took to them.

I got Charlie (black molly) a second girl friend: a creamcicle lyretail molly. I also have a dalmatian molly for him (Spot). The problems seem to be that the new molly thinks she's a platy (she schools with the platys and won't have anything to do with Charlie and Spot) and Charlie is too busy trying to get Spot pregnant to even notice her.

Is there any chance that there's a platy that looks like a creamcicle lyretail molly? If not, how long do you think it will be before Charlie notices her?

Also, I am clueless for names. So, ideas would help. I was tempted to go with "Push Pop" for the molly.

Just wondering.
--Beth

 

[Biulu]

Lyretail platies exist but there are differences in bodyshape between mollies and platies. Platies are shorter, sturdier, while mollies have a more elongated (aerodynamic) body. It seems that a creamsicle molly has an extrudable wide mouth compared to platies.

Maybe you can get us a picture if you are not sure?

 

[Beth_Laubenthal]

Lyretail platies exist but there are differences in bodyshape between mollies and platies. Platies are shorter, sturdier, while mollies have a more elongated (aerodynamic) body. It seems that a creamsicle molly has an extrudable wide mouth compared to platies.

Maybe you can get us a picture if you are not sure?

Don't shoot me. I got her from Petsmart. I have a friend who works there who is extremely knowledgeable about fish, among other animals. I only go to Petsmart when he's working. I only deal with him, no one else. He said she was a molly.

I just don't understand why my other two mollies won't have anything to do with her and why she schools with the platys. The only thing I can think of is because of the orange color. My platys are orange or creamish orange. She's orange. My two mollies are black and black and white. When I get a moment, if I can get pics, I'll post them.

 

[Biulu]

If you are sure it is a molly, size difference between her cousins and the platies could also be an issue. Is the new molly considerable smaller than the black and white ones? Is she more the size of the platies? If the latter is the case, she might feel more comfortable with the platies as otherwise she might be subject to bullying.

 

[Beth_Laubenthal]

She's actually the biggest fish in there. The other fish are all approximately the same size. She's about half inch longer (not including her tail) than the others. The others are about 2 inches long. She's about two and a half.

 

[Biulu]

Mmm, well it can't be that then... The only thing that doesn't fit into this picture is the fact that the male is not interested in her at all. That normally indicates that she is not the same species...

Now, the molly hybrids originate mostly from P. latipinna, whereas some others (like the black molly) originate from P. sphenops. Maybe your new female originates from the other species.

There are differences in size, where sphenops stays smaller than latipinna. But a more secure way of telling is the following: On the latipinna mollies the dorsal fin is situated in front of the anal fin, while on the common molly (sphenops) this fin starts behind the anal fin.

If there is no difference at all between the 3 fish, then I am out of options...

 

[Beth_Laubenthal]

I cannot tell. The new molly has two fins underneath. One looks like it is behind the anal opening and one looks like is in front. Kind of like this (not my photo):