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Platy Vs Molly: How To Tell Which Is Which?

platy vs molly

Mollies and Platies are tropical freshwater fish who give birth to live young, and both have a shared family – Poeciliidae. These two species are highly popular for their bright colors and high activity levels and sought by amateurs and experts alike. However, they can be tricky to tell apart.

The main differences between platys and mollies are their size and shap. Platiеs arе smaller and roundеr in shape, up to 2.8 inchеs long, whеrеas molliеs arе larger and еlongatеd, up to 4.5 inchеs long. Additionally, the mouth of platies face upward, while the mouth of mollies face forward.

The main difference between a Platy and a Molly is that they belong to different species. The Molly is from the Poecilia family and the Platy from the genus Xiphophorus which means they cannot interbreed. If you wish to learn what makes up the Molly and Platy family and how to tell them apart, please read on.

What Is a Platy?

Platy

The Platy is a freshwater fish of the genus Xiphophorus, and like Mollies, are live-bearing fish of the family Poeciliidae. The name Platy came from an older classification, Platypoecilus, which comes from the Greek word meaning ‘flat’ or ‘broad.’

Platies are indigenous to the east coast of Central America and the southern parts of Mexico. There have been a variety of hybrids between the Southern (Xiphophorus maculatus) and Variable Platy (Xiphophorus variatus), and often the rare Swordtail Platy (Xiphophorus xiphidium) has been added to the mix to produce a greater variety of fin shapes.

These three species collectively make up what we know of as Platy today and all of which may hybridize with one other. Both the Southern and Variable Platy are relatively short and stocky and exhibit a variety of colors. The most popular colors are yellow, red, green, and blue, which are thought to have originated as an adaptation to their natural habitat.

Several popular breeds originate from the Southern Platy which includes:

  • Half Moon
  • Coral
  • Comet
  • Salt and pepper
  • Moon
  • Blue mirror
  • Bleeding Heart Platy

Popular breeds that originate from the Variable Platy are:

  • Redtail
  • Yellowtail
  • Sunset
  • Rainbow
  • Hawaii
  • Marigold

What Are the Popular Varieties of Platys?

The species that make up the Platy breed are highly interbred, and many specimens sold in the industry are hybrid forms. Several Platies have been bred so exhibit specific color characteristics such as:

  • Wagtail Platy: Wagtail Platies have distinctive black coloration on both the caudal and dorsal fins that may be combined with various colors. Red and gold are the most popular wagtail variations, but there are more rare blue and green varieties.
  • Variegated Platy: The variegated patterned platies exhibit an attractive coloration of spots and blotches. Also referred to as ‘painted platies,’ the slashed paint effect can be combined with several colors or tail variations such as the Mickey Mouse Platy.
  • Salt and Pepper Platy: In a salt and pepper variation, the Platy is patterned by many dark or light spots that appear sprinkled across its body. This effect may be placed over a variety of Platy body colors for an eye-catching effect.
  • Tuxedo pattern: This pattern is a fun variation of platy color where the back end of the fish is black while the front is another color. The most popular tuxedo variations are mixed with the red and gold body color, but the effect may be reproduced on a wide variety of Platy hues.
  • Comet pattern: The comet or twin bar pattern is characterized by two black stripes on either side of the tail or caudal fin. The dramatic stripes highlight the fin colors and make them stand out visually. This variation may occur in the different colors of the Platy.
  • Hi Fin variation: In the Hi Fin variation, the dorsal fin is more pronounced and extends higher than standard Platy fins. This variation can be found on many different color Platys and also be combined with the wagtail coloration.
  • Pintail Platy: The pintail variation is Less common than the hyphen variation and can easily be identified by the tail fin’s elongated center portion that extends noticeably from the tail fin.

What Are the Platy Characteristics?

platy vs molly
Platys are small and laterally compressed, which means that viewed from the side, they appear normal, but from above, they appear narrow or flattened. They are characterized by compact and short fins and a roughly fan-shaped tail. Both the variatus and the Southern Platys lack the extended tailfin of the more rare Swordtail Platy (Xiphophorus xiphidium).

The Southern Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) grows to about 2.8in (7.0cm) and has only a slight difference between the species’ males and females. The male southern Platy has a caudal fin that is more pointed with an evolved gonopodium, a stick-shaped organ used for reproductive purposes. A fan-shaped anal fin can distinguish the female easily from the Platy male.

The variatus Platy (Xiphophorus variatus) also grows to 2.8in (7.0cm) and sports an olive color and black, marble-like spotting in the wild. The variatus is typically slimmer and more elongated than its Southern counterparts. Their fourth pectoral ray shows saw-like notches, and they usually have 12 dorsal rays and two rows of jaw teeth.

Behavior

Platies are not an aggressive breed of fish species, and unlike most non-aggressive fish, they are not shy. They share tanks very well with Mollies and guppies and Swordtails. However, they can become aggressive if there is an unbalanced male to female ratio or changes in their environment. They may also exhibit aggression if their tank is overpopulated or there is a lack of hiding places.

Breeding

Platies are a pleasure to breed and reach sexual maturity at only four months old. In fact, they have such a high breeding rate that they can quickly overwhelm your tank. Because they are such avid breeders, your male to female ratio should be at least 2-3 females to one male to prevent stress in the female population.

Unfortunately, Platies don’t make great parents and often cannibalize their young, so care should be taken when the fry are birthed. The female Platy’s gestation lasts 24-30 days on average, and it can give birth up to 20-80 live young at one time, but more commonly, the Platy will produce 20-40 young.

Male vs. Female Platies

You may determine the gender of Platies by looking at the underside of their bodies. The females display fan-shaped anal fins while the male has a pointed and long gonopodium that is usually held close to its body. Males are typically brighter in color and have a slightly larger dorsal fin.

What Is a Molly Fish?

Molly Fish

The Poecilia sphenops or Molly is a freshwater fish species, sometimes known as a common Molly or short-finned Molly. Mollies got their name from their original genus classification Mollienesia, which is now the Poecilia genus. They originate in Mexico’s brackish and marine waters and exhibit a dull silvery color in their natural habitat.

The common Molly is found from Mexico to South America’s northern areas, while the Sailfin Molly comes from the Gulf of Mexico and the USA’s South East coast. The sailfin or Yucatan Molly P. velifera is indigenous to the southeast Mexico area of Yucatan.

The Molly was introduced to fishing hobbyists in 1899 and has grown in popularity ever since. Mollies tend to be more aggressive than their Poecilia cousins, such as the guppy and the Platy. There are many hybrids in the Molly family, and they exhibit a wide variety of colors and are divided into three main types that are distinguished by their short or long fins:

  • Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinna
  • Common Molly Poecilia sphenops
  • Mexican Sailfin Molly Poecilia velifera is a rare type of Molly due to its breeding difficulty, and the fact that tank bred Mexican Sailfins will not exhibit the elongated dorsal fin.

The Molly fish breed has given rise to many colorful and unique color and shape variations such as:

  • Black Mollies. These Mollies are entirely black and are a very popular breed due to their hardy natures and their high breeding capacity.
  • White Mollies have large black eyes that stand out in contrast from its entirely white body.
  • Golden Mollies have a bright gold or 24 karat shine that hobbyists love.
  • Balloon Mollies have a genetic defect that gives them an abnormally curved spine and a unique appearance.
  • Lyretail Mollies. These arresting Mollies have extended top and bottom ends of their caudal fins. It extends beyond the middle of the fin in the shape of a lyre.
  • Dalmatian Mollies are an eye-catching white with prominent jet black spots on its body.
  • Gold Dust Mollies are of the short-finned variety and exhibit a dusty gold and black pattern.
  • Creamsicle Lyretail Mollies are a blend of pale orange and white colorings that extend onto its enlarged dorsal fin.
  • The Harlequin Sailfin Mollies are an orange bodied Molly with gold, white and black pattering over its body and fins.
  • Marble Lyretail Mollies. These fish exhibit an exquisite pattern of marbled black and white across their body and fins.

What Are the Popular Breeds of Mollies?

Mollies are a very popular breed due to their high growth rate, brood size, and reproduction ease. The two main breeds that give rise to so many beautiful colors and shapes of the species are:

Common or Short Finned Molly

The common Molly or Poecilia sphenops are the smallest of the three breeds, and the males are noticeably slimmer than their plumber female companions. When bred in tanks, males reach 3 inches (8cm) and the females 4-5 inches (10-12cm). If you encountered a common Molly in their natural habitat, you would find them growing up to 8 inches (20cm).

The common Molly has given rise to several subspecies and multiple color varieties with males that are typically more colorful than females. This species has given rise to both the black Molly and lyretail Mollies.

Sailfin Molly

The Sailfin Molly or Poecilia latipinna is one of the most eye-catching of the Mollies. It has a similar shape to the common Molly but is slightly more flattened from side to side. The Sailfin Molly has a distinctive dorsal fin larger and more rectangular than the common Molly and often has dark spots. Sailfins reach about 4-5 inches (6-12cm) in captivity.

The latipinna sport a variety of colors and can also be found in albino and black or speckled forms.

Mexican Sailfin Molly

The Mexican Sailfin or Poecilia velifera is also called the Giant Sailfin Molly, similar in size and shape to the Sailfin Molly. The Mexican Sailfin Molly can be distinguished from its Sailfin Molly counterpart by its light dorsal spots instead of dark, rectangular spots on the Common Sailfin’s dorsal.

Because they are so similar in shape and size, they may be differentiated by the number of rays each has on their dorsal fin. The Sailfin Molly has around 14 rays, while the Mexican Sailfish Molly has close to 18 rays. Mature males display an enlarged dorsal fin and colorful caudal fins to attract mates. This fish can reach 6 inches (15cm) in captivity, making it bigger than the typical Sailfin.

What Are the Molly Characteristics?

platy vs molly
Appearance

The wild Mollies tend to be a dull silver color, with mature males exhibiting blue/green color.

Their sides, backs, and dorsal fins are typically covered in spots that may become so numerous that they form one large pattern. Individuals of the species exhibit a wide range of colors and usually display silver, black, and yellow-orange.

Their bodies are oblong with a small flattened head with protruding jaws that function as a tool to rasp algae from surfaces. It has two rows of teeth, the outer row of which is the largest.
Mollys have stout, thickset bodies with tails with a convex rounded edge and angular dorsal fins.

They have characteristic mouths that turn sharply upwards. This upward turning mouth is a genetic design to allow them to skim the water’s surface for oxygen.

Male Mollies are easily distinguished from the females by their smaller size and their gonopodium. These are rod-like organs, which are specialized anal fins used to deposit sperm into female Mollies during reproduction. They can exhibit aggressive behavior, especially in the males and both sexes are highly active. They are diurnal, which means they are active during the day.

Male vs. Female Mollies

Males are more torpedo-shaped and have larger fins than female Mollies. Male Mollies have a specialized set of anal fins that form a gonopodium, a stick-like organ used for reproduction. Males tend to exhibit brighter colors and larger fins for dominance displays while female Mollies are more stout, bulky, and have triangular-shaped anal fins.

Breeding

Mollies are generally easy to breed, except for the Veiltail and Lyretail varieties (which have an excessively long gonopodium due to selective breeding.) Due to their intense breeding patterns, you should keep your male to female ratio 1:3 in your tank to prevent female harassment.

Mollies may store sperm in their bodies for months and produce up to five batches of live young after every successful mating. This fact is the reason why many novices presume their Mollies are interbreeding when, in fact, they are not. The common Molly may birth between 20-150 fry each batch while the Sailfin Molly produces between 20-100.

Behavior

Mollies are rarely aggressive and spend most of their lives in shoals in nature. They can exhibit aggression when overcrowded or in a tank with an unbalanced male to female ratio. Male Mollies can harass females for reproduction, but generally, this won’t be a problem if you have the correct male to female ratio.

How Do You Tell a Platy From a Molly?

There are several differences between the Platy and Molly breeds, including behavioral, biological, and physical. The most obvious differences are:

  • The Platy belongs to the genus Xiphophorus and Mollies are from the genus Poecilia.
  • Mollies tend to exhibit colors such as orange, green, black, and white.
  • Platies typically tend to display warmer colors such as orange, red, white, yellow gold and often display spots on their bodies.
  • Mollies are larger, and the standard size of male fish is 3.2 inches (8 cm), and female fish is 4.8 inches (12 cm), whereas Platies are smaller with an average length of 2.8 inches (7 cm).
  • Mollies usually have a more rounded, compact shape and have a more pronounced upturn of the mouth.
  • They have a significant difference in DNA, which means that they can not crossbreed.
  • Poecilia has different shaped gonopodia to the xiphophorus. Platys have a long and delicate gonopodium with a fleshy tip, while Mollies have a more curved flange shaped somewhat like an arrow.

Related Questions

Can platies and mollies live together?

Yes, you can keep platies and mollies together in a community tank. They get along well and have similar water and tank requirements.

Mollies are often peaceful and friendly, but sometimes the male gets aggressive and may fin-nip the tank mates.

Can you crossbreed mollies and platies?

No, mollies and platies are incompatible to crossbreed. Crossbreeding requires both species of fish to be closely related with similar congenital traits (DNA).

Mollies belong to the Poecilia family and can breed with the same family members, such as endlers. Likewise, platies can breed with swordtails as they’re both from the Poeciliidae family.

Do mollies clean the tank?

Mollies are undoubtedly one of the best algae cleaning crews for your aquarium.

Can mollies school with platies?

First of all, mollies are not schooling fish. They prefer company and interact with other tankmates but don’t school. Moreover, you can’t mix and match fish to make up a school unless they share the same scientific name.

Which is better, molly or platy?

Both fish have similar tank requirements and can be fed the same food items. The best way to choose between molly and platy is based on their physical attributes and personalities. 

Conclusion

It is not always easy to tell your Molly from a Platy or vice versa, especially to the untrained eye. The genetic differences and distinctive gonopodium can hardly be captured without a microscope, so it’s best to know the specific colorations and sizes of your Platies and Mollies. If you are still uncertain by eye, you may always send a photo to a forum or expert for their advice.

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