Mollies are part of the livebearers collection of fish, including Guppies, Platies and Swordtails. They are very easy to breed and it is fairly easy to distinguish the males from the females.
Most of the colors of Mollies are a result of specialized breeding practices from the people who raise them.
It is recommended that Mollies be placed in aquariums containing at least 15 gallons of water, a maximum of ¼ inch of gravel, and a heater that keeps the temperature of the water between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. As with Guppies and other livebearers, you should put 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons of water to help them survive better in fresh water environments. Unique to the Mollies species of fish, they can actually live quite well in complete salt water aquariums as well. Since Mollies have this flexibility, they are a versatile fish that could be compatible in many different aquarium set ups.
Once considered a difficult fish to care for, the Mollies are now being seen as indicator fish as they will be the first fish to provide signs that the aquarium is unbalanced or the water is contaminated. Mollies kept in freshwater tanks require frequent water changes to remain healthy, while Mollies in reef aquariums rarely need a water change.
The best diet for Mollies includes feeding them floating flake food and freeze dried bloodworms on a daily basis, with a few Black Worms fed every other day.
Keep more female Mollies than male Mollies for the best results. The list of compatible fish is fairly long and Mollies can share the tank with several varieties of fish. The best tank mates include Platies and Swordtails, Angel Fish, a single Plecostomus, Corydoras Catfish, or larger Tetras including Red Serpaes, Silver Tips and Black Skirts.
As with any fish, you will need to have adequate room in the tank as well as a good filtration system. Proper lighting is also important for the health of your fish. When introducing Mollies to your tank, be sure you keep them in the bag that you received them and and float that in the fish tank for about 20 minutes to let the water temperature slowly match that of the tank. Then open the bag and mix a small amount of tank water in - let that sit for about 5 minutes. Repeat this last step a few times so that your fish can become acclimate to the water in it's new home before you release them into the tank.
Mollies tend to live an average of 4 or 5 years and reach a size of 5" in length.
Lee Dobbins writes for Fish Tank Guide where you can learn more about fish tank care and freshwater tropical fish like Mollies.
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