McMurray
Fish Fanatic
27/06/2006
If you would like contribute of feel some thing needs editing Contact McMurray
An added contribution was made by dwarfgourami
The Community
I have designed this community tanks to provide best living conditions for livebearers (Mollies, Moons, Swordtails). (not guppies)
With the livebearers it is possible to house, gouramis, small sharks, and active tetras. These are a good additions to the tank.
Most livebears species do best in groups of 3 or more. for any other fish types mentioned in this document it is best to read up about that fish type to find the best population numbers.
It is important to keep a Sex ratio with all fish as males have a tendancy to fight when to few females are around. Also if there are to few females they may get over stressed by the males wanting to mate all the time. So it is advied that an equal amount of male to female or more females to males is required.
This type of community aquarium offers an interesting way to house a lively and colorful collection of the most common LFS fish.
Conditions of the tank.
This community tank configuration is suitable for tanks that are normal shaped that hold 10 gallons (45 Liters) 60cm x 30cm x 30cm. However due to different breeds strains of the live bearers larger tanks are needed for Sailfin Mollies or the larger varieties of sword tail. Where a minimum tank size should be around 20 gallons 90 litres which is around 60cm x 40cm x 40cm or larger with standard filtration and heating. (For filtration upto 10 gallons (45 Liters) I would recommend an internal filter.
For Aquariums larger than 10 gallon 45 Liters I would recomend an external power filter however the quality of standard installed internal filers have increased in recent years and these are also recomended.
Warning you should lookout for some internal filters that claim they can filter larger tanks. the problem with these filters is that they need a larger pump to have a water rotation of a minimum 3 cycles per hour. Keep the temperature on the warm side (80-82 deg F / 27-28 deg C). Maintain a pH of 7.2-7.6. Check pH monthly.
Some people might frown on the next suggestion.
Depending on the type of Mollie Maintain a 2 tablespoons of salt per 5 gallons(22.5 Liters). (Some Livebearers prefer more salt than many other fish.) there is a difference in salt requirement between platies and mollies some mollies do actually come from brackish water, no platies or swordtails do. As long as platies have hard, clean water, in a non-overcrowded tank, they do not want salt- and if you can't provide a clean non-overcrowded tank with hard water, you shouldn't be keeping platies.
howerver be aware that if you do add salt to the tank the tank mates that you place in with the livebarers may not like or need the salt and could die.
With the proper conditions these fish will begin to breed and you may see some young swimming among your floating plants.
to be safe move your fry into a small filtered aquarium or holding net and feed them several times a day with fry food or very finly ground food for growth.
Some live plants are recommended for the these type of fish. Again check to see if the plants will survive with a bit of salt in the water
Time to Eat:
It is advised that Mollies, moons & swords will thrive if the fish are fed with small amounts of feed but frequently.
For best groth and colouration results feed the fish and fry 3-4 times a day with standard foods such as flake foods and brine shrimp. A good supplement includes freeze dried krill, live brine shrimp, vegetable based flake food, and algae tablets for your catfish. You can also feed your fish vegtables like Peas, sprouts, broccoli- it keeps them both regular and active.
WARNING be aware with feeding 3-4 times a day if not done in correct amounts this type of feeding there is a risk of deterioration of water quality and ammonia levels in the water to rocket.
WARNING These type of fish will always eat and this will cause the fish to get condtipated and the fish's kidneys to fail (Dropsy) if over fead
Most people will only feed their fish once or twice a day which is also good but it will reduce the speed the fish grows and the qualtiy of the colour.
The Selection of fish that work well with livebearers
Angels: Angelfish
Barbs: Cherry Barb, Rosy Barb
Catfish: Banjo Catfish, Corydoras Catfish, Small Plecostomus Catfish, Farlowella Catfish, Oticinclus Catfish, Upside Down Catfish, Synodontis Catfish
Danios: Giant Danios, Zebra Danio, Pearl Danios, Leopard Danios, Gold Danios
Cichlids: Orange Chromide
Loach: Small Clown Loach, Kuhlii Loach, Yoyo Loach, Dojo Loach, Weather Loach
Livebearers: Variatus, Moons, Swordtails, Mollies
Glass Fish: Non-Painted Glass Fish
Gouramis: Chocolate Gouramis, Croaking Gouramis, Dwarf Gouramis, Honey Gouramis, Moonlight Gouramis, Pearl Gouramis, Fire Gouramis (Small Blue Gouramis, Small Gold Gouramis)
Rainbowfish: Celebes Rainbowfish
Rasboras: Harlequin Rasbora, Red Lined Rasbora
Sharks: Small Irridescent Shark, Red Tail Shark, Red Rainbow Shark, Tri Color Shark
Tetras: Black Tetra, Black Neon Tetra, Bleeding Heart Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Congo Tetra, Diamond Tetra, Emperor Tetra, Flame Tetra, Head & Tail Lite Tetra, Lemon Tetra, Pristella Tetra, Red Eye Tetra, Red Phantom Tetra, Serpae Tetra, Silvertip Tetra
Other Fish: Butterfly fish, Hemiodus, Penguin, Silver Dollar
Non-Fish: African Frog, Snail
If you would like contribute of feel some thing needs editing Contact McMurray
An added contribution was made by dwarfgourami
The Community
I have designed this community tanks to provide best living conditions for livebearers (Mollies, Moons, Swordtails). (not guppies)
With the livebearers it is possible to house, gouramis, small sharks, and active tetras. These are a good additions to the tank.
Most livebears species do best in groups of 3 or more. for any other fish types mentioned in this document it is best to read up about that fish type to find the best population numbers.
It is important to keep a Sex ratio with all fish as males have a tendancy to fight when to few females are around. Also if there are to few females they may get over stressed by the males wanting to mate all the time. So it is advied that an equal amount of male to female or more females to males is required.
This type of community aquarium offers an interesting way to house a lively and colorful collection of the most common LFS fish.
Conditions of the tank.
This community tank configuration is suitable for tanks that are normal shaped that hold 10 gallons (45 Liters) 60cm x 30cm x 30cm. However due to different breeds strains of the live bearers larger tanks are needed for Sailfin Mollies or the larger varieties of sword tail. Where a minimum tank size should be around 20 gallons 90 litres which is around 60cm x 40cm x 40cm or larger with standard filtration and heating. (For filtration upto 10 gallons (45 Liters) I would recommend an internal filter.
For Aquariums larger than 10 gallon 45 Liters I would recomend an external power filter however the quality of standard installed internal filers have increased in recent years and these are also recomended.
Warning you should lookout for some internal filters that claim they can filter larger tanks. the problem with these filters is that they need a larger pump to have a water rotation of a minimum 3 cycles per hour. Keep the temperature on the warm side (80-82 deg F / 27-28 deg C). Maintain a pH of 7.2-7.6. Check pH monthly.
Some people might frown on the next suggestion.
Depending on the type of Mollie Maintain a 2 tablespoons of salt per 5 gallons(22.5 Liters). (Some Livebearers prefer more salt than many other fish.) there is a difference in salt requirement between platies and mollies some mollies do actually come from brackish water, no platies or swordtails do. As long as platies have hard, clean water, in a non-overcrowded tank, they do not want salt- and if you can't provide a clean non-overcrowded tank with hard water, you shouldn't be keeping platies.
howerver be aware that if you do add salt to the tank the tank mates that you place in with the livebarers may not like or need the salt and could die.
With the proper conditions these fish will begin to breed and you may see some young swimming among your floating plants.
to be safe move your fry into a small filtered aquarium or holding net and feed them several times a day with fry food or very finly ground food for growth.
Some live plants are recommended for the these type of fish. Again check to see if the plants will survive with a bit of salt in the water
Time to Eat:
It is advised that Mollies, moons & swords will thrive if the fish are fed with small amounts of feed but frequently.
For best groth and colouration results feed the fish and fry 3-4 times a day with standard foods such as flake foods and brine shrimp. A good supplement includes freeze dried krill, live brine shrimp, vegetable based flake food, and algae tablets for your catfish. You can also feed your fish vegtables like Peas, sprouts, broccoli- it keeps them both regular and active.
WARNING be aware with feeding 3-4 times a day if not done in correct amounts this type of feeding there is a risk of deterioration of water quality and ammonia levels in the water to rocket.
WARNING These type of fish will always eat and this will cause the fish to get condtipated and the fish's kidneys to fail (Dropsy) if over fead
Most people will only feed their fish once or twice a day which is also good but it will reduce the speed the fish grows and the qualtiy of the colour.
The Selection of fish that work well with livebearers
Angels: Angelfish
Barbs: Cherry Barb, Rosy Barb
Catfish: Banjo Catfish, Corydoras Catfish, Small Plecostomus Catfish, Farlowella Catfish, Oticinclus Catfish, Upside Down Catfish, Synodontis Catfish
Danios: Giant Danios, Zebra Danio, Pearl Danios, Leopard Danios, Gold Danios
Cichlids: Orange Chromide
Loach: Small Clown Loach, Kuhlii Loach, Yoyo Loach, Dojo Loach, Weather Loach
Livebearers: Variatus, Moons, Swordtails, Mollies
Glass Fish: Non-Painted Glass Fish
Gouramis: Chocolate Gouramis, Croaking Gouramis, Dwarf Gouramis, Honey Gouramis, Moonlight Gouramis, Pearl Gouramis, Fire Gouramis (Small Blue Gouramis, Small Gold Gouramis)
Rainbowfish: Celebes Rainbowfish
Rasboras: Harlequin Rasbora, Red Lined Rasbora
Sharks: Small Irridescent Shark, Red Tail Shark, Red Rainbow Shark, Tri Color Shark
Tetras: Black Tetra, Black Neon Tetra, Bleeding Heart Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Congo Tetra, Diamond Tetra, Emperor Tetra, Flame Tetra, Head & Tail Lite Tetra, Lemon Tetra, Pristella Tetra, Red Eye Tetra, Red Phantom Tetra, Serpae Tetra, Silvertip Tetra
Other Fish: Butterfly fish, Hemiodus, Penguin, Silver Dollar
Non-Fish: African Frog, Snail
