Molly Fish Care

Scientific name:	Poecilia sphenops
Common names:	molly fish
Difficulty level:	easy
Behavior:	peaceful
Temperature :	24°C – 26°C, pH 7 – 8.5
Nutrition:	omnivore
Size:	up to 12 cm
Aquarium size:	from 80 L, edge length at least 60 cm

How long does a Molly live?

Life expectancy. Black Mollies of the small-finned variety can live up to 3 to 4 years, the large fins derived from the sailfin fish can also live up to five to six years.

How long is a Molly pregnant?

Gestation times of around 21 to 65 days are known.

Which plants for Mollies?

Plants: Black Molly prefer dense and tall plantings, so it is best to plant fast-growing plants. Hornwort and the easy-care Hygrophila are well suited. Lining: Vegetable flake food. From time to time mosquito larvae can be added.

What types of mollies are there?

• Balloon Belly Molly.
• Black Molly.
• Black Sailfin Molly.
• Black Lyretail Molly.
• Creamsicle Sailfin Lyretail Molly.
• Dalmatian Molly.
• Dalmation Lyretail Molly.
• Gold Doubloon Molly.
• Golden Sailfin Molly
• Gold Dust Molly
• Harlequin Sailfin Molly
• Marble Lyretail Molly
• Platinum Lyretail Molly
• White/Silver Sailfin Molly

Which fish eats small mollies?

• Scalar.
• Striped pike.
• Sumatran mullet.
• Copper Tetra.
• Red-headed Tetra.
• Fighting fish.
• Killifish.

How much is a Molly?

Molly fish cost $2–$4 per fish. Molly fish are generally inexpensive and easy to get, making them popular among beginner and expert fishkeepers alike.

What temperature do mollies need?

The fish likes it accordingly warm and should be kept at temperatures between 24 and 28 °C. In cooler water, it quickly begins to get sick, which you can quickly recognize from the typical rocking movements of the animals.

How Many Black Mollies in the Aquarium?

Black Mollies are not schooling fish. However, they should be kept in groups of at least five fish. In a small 60 liter aquarium, only one member of the group should be a male.

Can you keep mollies and guppies together?

Yes, the three types can be kept together. Our son actually wanted to have neon tetras, but I read that they don’t go well with the guppies because the offspring are eaten there.

Can you cross mollies and platys?

Mollies aren’t just Poecilia sphenops. There are several species that cross with each other quite easily. The simplest examples are broadfin medaka, Poecilia latipinna, with sailfin medaka, Poecilia velifera. These crossbreed just as easily as platies and swordtails.

Can mollies and swordtails mate?

Platys easily mate with swordtails and other species from the Xipho group.

Are molly fish easy to care for?

Mollies are easy to care for in every sense. Keeping them with other fish is easy, and they are known to be very interesting with colorful personalities. This is why there is no reason not to get mollies, especially if you want diverse aquariums with little splashes of color.

How do you take care of a molly fish?

As a whole, mollies are very adaptable. They like warm waters, neutral pH, and hard water. Contrary to the belief of some, you don’t need salt in the water to keep these fish healthy. They do just fine living in pure freshwater environments their entire lives.

How many mollies should you keep together?

At least three or four mollies should be kept together. Mollies are shoaling fish, which means they’re more comfortable living with fish of the same species. While you should keep several mollies together, be sure not to overcrowd the tank.

Can molly fish live in tap water?

Yes, mollies can live in tap water. Mollies are very hardy and can tolerate various living conditions quite easily.

How often do you change molly water?

You should do a 25% water change every two to four weeks. There is no reason to remove the fish during the water change. Make sure you stir the gravel or use a gravel cleaner during the water change.

How often should I clean my mollies tank?

Also, due to their big appetites, mollies produce a lot of poop, and at the same time, won’t eat fish poop. Therefore, you’ll still need to clean the tank regularly and change the water weekly to maintain the cleanliness of the tank.

Do mollies recognize their owners?

Every human face has two eyes, a nose, and lips. We recognize each other by remembering subtle differences. But fish’s brain isn’t that complex.

What is the best food for molly fish?

Their favorite frozen foods are bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp. They will also greedily accept any live foods that you can find to feed to them, with live blackworms, bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp being special favorites.

How often do you feed mollies?

Offer your mollies a small amount of food once or two times a day. Besides moderation, variety is another key element in feeding molly fish. Since these fish are omnivores, they require a variety of foods and a balanced diet to stay healthy. From commercial foods to live foods, mollies will eat anything.

Do molly fish need an air pump?

Yes, mollies need an air pump. Even though they are hardy, mollies still require an abundance of oxygen to survive. An air pump produces tiny bubbles that rise to the water surface and cause surface agitation. Surface agitation helps create a healthier environment and provides breathable oxygen for your mollies.

Do mollies eat fish flakes?

If you want to feed your baby mollies fish flakes, you need to crush them up finely so they are small enough for them to eat. Live baby brine shrimp, baby blood worms, and other super small insects and crustaceans are all good options too.

Do mollies need a heater?

As Mollies are freshwater fish that are found in tropical climates, they will need a heater. The only exception to this is if you already live in a place that maintains hot climates.

Do molly fish need light?

Mollies do not require light directly. For a fish-only aquarium featuring mollies, 1 watt of lighting power per gallon of aquarium volume is usually plenty to see your fish. For tanks larger than 50 gallons, you should probably up this to 2 watts per gallon to accommodated the greater depth.

Do mollies produce a lot of waste?

Mollies might be super cute, but they’re also really messy. Basically, they’re little machines that do nothing but eat, poop and make babies. They constantly gobble food like they’re starving and so they produce a lot of poop.

How big do mollies get?

Adult mollies reach up to 4.5 inches in length. Female molly fish grow bigger than male mollies — males grow to around 3.5 inches in length.