Are Gold Black Lyretail Mollies easy to keep?

They are easy to moderate if the aquarium is warm, mature and hard enough. Soft acidic water is the usual problem.

What tank size does this molly need?

Use at least 90 litres so the group has swimming space and water quality stays stable.

What pH and temperature suit Poecilia sphenops?

Aim for 24-28 C and pH 7.2-8.2 with mineral-rich water.

What should I feed lyretail mollies?

Feed flake, micro pellets, spirulina foods, greens and small frozen foods such as daphnia or brine shrimp.

Gold Black Lyretail Molly (Poecilia sphenops) showing gold body and black tail — representative image

Gold and black lyretail molly for active hard-water community aquariums with space, mineral-rich water and peaceful tank mates.

Community FishEasy to Moderate CareFreshwater FishGold Black Lyretail MollyHard Water FishLivebearerLyretail MollyMolly Fish

Care at a Glance

Scientific Name

Poecilia sphenops

Max Adult Size

up to 10 cm

Care Level

Easy to moderate

Temperament

Peaceful, active livebearer

Temperature

24–28°C

pH Range

7.2–8.2

Minimum Tank

90L

Diet

Quality flakes, micro pellets, spirulina foods, greens and small frozen foods

Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.

Poecilia sphenops

Gold Black Lyretail Molly (Poecilia sphenops)

Name: Gold Black Lyretail Molly (Poecilia sphenops)
Brand: Tropical Fish Co
SKU: 6329
Availability: InStock

Peaceful

£6.99

Size: 3 - 4 cm

Shoal Pricing

— save up to 30%

Gold Black Lyretail Molly are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.

Your shoal

£55.90You save £14.00

Live arrival guaranteed. Full refund or replacement if they don’t arrive healthy. Packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed.

£19.95 tracked delivery — half price (£9.98) from £100.00, free from £200.00. One delivery charge however many fish you add — everything travels together with a licensed live-animal courier.

Read our reviews on Google or see verified buyer reviews and photos. Human support, careful packing and clear delivery updates for live aquatics.

Gold and black lyretail molly for active hard-water community aquariums with space, mineral-rich water and peaceful tank mates.

Community FishEasy to Moderate CareFreshwater FishGold Black Lyretail MollyHard Water FishLivebearerLyretail MollyMolly Fish

Care at a Glance

Scientific Name

Poecilia sphenops

Max Adult Size

up to 10 cm

Care Level

Easy to moderate

Temperament

Peaceful, active livebearer

Temperature

24–28°C

pH Range

7.2–8.2

Minimum Tank

90L

Diet

Quality flakes, micro pellets, spirulina foods, greens and small frozen foods

Domestic cobra-green male guppy (Poecilia reticulata) swimming among green aquarium plants

Full Care Guide

Guppy Care Guide: Poecilia reticulata

Guppies are social livebearers suited to a prepared beginner, not a fish-per-litre formula. Use a mature filtered aquarium, tested neutral-to-alkaline mineral-bearing water, deliberate sex and population planning, open swimming room, cover and a separation option.

15 min readRead guide

Water Parameters

Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors

Temperature

24–28°C

24°CIdeal28°C

pH Level

7.2–8.2

7.2Ideal8.2

Gold Black Lyretail Molly (Poecilia sphenops) is a selectively bred livebearer with a gold front, black rear patterning and a flowing lyre-shaped tail. It is a strong choice for keepers who want colour and movement in a hard-water community aquarium without forcing a delicate soft-water species into unsuitable conditions.

Quick facts

Scientific name	Poecilia sphenops strain
Adult size	8-10 cm
Minimum aquarium	90 litres or more
Temperature	24-28 C
pH	7.2-8.2
Temperament	Peaceful, active livebearer
Diet	Omnivore with vegetable matter and algae-based foods

Care and setup

Mollies need stable, mineral-rich water, open swimming space and clean filtration. Keep them in a small social group and avoid cramped soft-water nano tanks. Plants, floating cover and a calm current help them settle.

Feeding

Use quality flakes, micro pellets, spirulina foods, blanched greens and occasional frozen foods such as daphnia or brine shrimp. A vegetable-rich diet helps digestion and condition.

Tank mates

Choose peaceful livebearers and other hard-water community fish. Useful comparisons include Silver Sailfin Molly, Green Sail-Fin Molly Pair, Green Moscow Male Guppy, Koi Kohaku Swordtail and Sunset Simpson Variatus Platy.

Arrival and guarantee

Order when the tank is mature, warm and already holding steady hard-water values. Livestock is packed for dispatch across the UK and sent by a licensed live-animal courier where live-animal shipping applies. Livestock orders are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

For more livebearer choices, compare Silver Sailfin Molly, Koi Kohaku Swordtail, Green Moscow Male Guppy and Sunset Simpson Variatus Platy.