- Scientific name: Poecilia parae
- Synonyms: Acanthophacelus melanzonus, Micropoecilia amazonica, Micropoecilia melanzona, Micropoecilia parae, Poecilia amazonica, Poecilia melanzona, Poecilia vivipara parae
- Common name: Para molly
- Group: Livebearers
- Habitat: South America; from coastal waters of central Guyana to the Amazon Basin, Brazil.
- Size: male: 3 cm, female: 5 cm
- Biotope: In fresh and brackish waters of estuaries. Occurs in small swamps and shallow slow-flowing creeks located inland.
- Social behavior: Peaceful. In the aquarium as in nature, it lives in groups close to the water surface.
- Diet: Omnivorous; small live foods, especially Artemia and small mosquito larvae and occasionally flake foods.
- Breeding: Hard
- Tank: Minimum 30 litres
- Population: 1 male and 3-4 females for 40 litres
- Decoration: Needs a tank with dense vegetation and open areas for swimming. Also densely cover the surface with floating plants.
- Temperature: 24-28 °C
- pH: 7-7.5
- Hardness: 5-10 NK°
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Description: Male Poecilia parae come in five genetically determined varieties: yellow, blue, red, parae (clear with a black stripes), and immaculata (drab gray that mimics the color of immature females). Parae males are large, while immaculata males are small. Red, yellow, and blue males are all medium-sized. Males have a colorful broad stripe between 2 horizontal black spripes on their flanks. Their back is olive green. Females have drab gray coloration.
Males have a gonopodium, a colorful design on their flanks and a smaller more slender body. Females are sexually mature at 8 months of age, whereas males attain sexual maturity at 6 months. Depending on the age and size of the female, the number of the young fluctuates between 5 and 16 after about 24 days of gestation. The fry are 7 mm long at birth. Well-nourished parents don’t pursue their offspring.