Orange Saffron Molly 4cm

Orange Saffron Molly

The vibrant orange colouration of the saffron molly is a really refreshing and stunning addition to an aquarium. These fish are active, hardy, and vibrant, just like every other molly strain in the aquarium hobby. The only difference with this fish is the presence of the lyretail gene, which enhances their fins with a crescent-like flowing tail.

The orange saffron molly has got to be the most perfect name for this fish. It has a very mellow orange colour, with hints of a deeper orange and metallic yellow scales. The colouration has the perfect balance of being vibrant but not extreme in any way. Combined with their elegant lyretail extensions, these fish resemble floating embers in the water, which look absolutely stunning against dark backgrounds or lush green plants. These fish would be perfect in planted tanks and are actually a great utility fish due to their hair algae–eating capabilities.

The orange saffron molly is also a livebearer, much like other species in the Poecilia family. Overall, it is just a great fish for both beginners and well-seasoned aquarists to enjoy and experience. One other amazing fact about these fish is that they can live in full freshwater, brackish, and saltwater, which just shows how hardy they are.

Tank Recommendations for Your Orange Saffron Molly

Being a fish that grows to only 7 cm and remains very easy to care for, the saffron molly can be kept in a fairly small aquarium, with the minimum being 40 litres. However, a larger size is always recommended for these fish due to their active nature. A sand or gravel substrate would be fine for these fish as well, as they spend most of their time exclusively at the top of the aquarium.

Because mollies like alkaline or high pH environments, crushed coral or aragonite sand would be optimal. They will also enjoy plants in the aquarium, with great options being ferns, Anubias, Pogostemon, and Vallisneria, as these are large and densely growing plants. This will allow for great natural breeding grounds and places for fry to grow. As mentioned, orange saffron mollies are considered a “hard water” fish, meaning they prefer the water to have an elevated pH of 7 or above. This still means they can be kept with tetras and most other community fish, but the pH should not go lower than this.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The lyretail orange saffron molly is a very peaceful aquarium fish that can get along with a wide range of tank mates in both fresh and saltwater conditions.

Usually Compatible:
Rainbow fish, mudskippers, platies, danios, loaches, and many other common aquarium fish.

Sometimes Compatible:
Smaller-sized soft-water fish such as neon or cardinal tetras, bottom-dwelling fish such as Corydoras, and certain slower-moving species like Apistogramma.

Rarely Compatible:
Large and aggressive species that would prey on the mollies, such as oscars, and very slow-moving fish like Borneo suckers.

Feeding Your Lyretail Orange Saffron Molly

The lyretail orange saffron molly is very easy to feed once it is settled into the aquarium. It will readily eat a wide range of foods but prefers floating nano pellets or flakes due to its top-dwelling behaviour. Providing nutritious food with good protein will ensure optimal health. Feeding should happen once during the day, during lighting hours.