How Do You Tell The Difference Between Male & Female Molly Fish?

Molly fish are small tropical fish that can come in a wide range of colors. They are popular fish for aquarium keepers of any level, and some of the most popular varieties include the dalmatian molly fish and the balloon molly fish. If you have an interest in breeding molly fish, being able to distinguish between male and female molly fish is essential. Even if you don't want to breed them, being able to tell the difference between males and females is useful, and---once you know what to look for---it's easy to do. Wait until the molly fish is about 2 months old. Molly fish live for 3 to 5 years, and and you will start to notice secondary sex characteristics between the ages of 2 to 3 months. Look at the anal fin. The anal fin on a molly fish is located on the belly of the fish; it's the fin closest to the tail. On a male, the anal fin is elongated and tubular in shape. This is because the anal fin on the male contains an organ that is meant to deposit sperm in the female. The female' ...  more