t-ace

i just aquired a black balloon molly froma friend that didn't want it any more. i was wondering if there is an easy way to identify the sex of an adult molly. i am sure that there probobly is, but i am new to the whole fish keeping thing!

sheamurai

I've never had a balloon molly, but I've had Black Lyretail Mollies. Its usually pretty easy to sex livebearers - if the centre small fin centered on the belly (towards the tail) is a full fin, it's female. If it's more of a spike, then its male.

jaymucca

with mollies, the only way that you can be sure of the sex is by looking at the gonopodium (this is like an anal fin). it is on the underside of the fish close to the tail fin. If this is pointed, then it is a male, if it is more of a fin, then it is female. Males also tend to be more rounded. search "gonopodium" on google images, it may give you more knowledge about distinguishing between sexes.

Thanks