Baby Mollys

[Dansue]

Hi there,

I am new to the site (and to tropical fish really..), i et up a new tank a short while ago. I had a very small tank with just one guppy and one (i believe) molly. I recently upgraded this to a new tank which measures 30" x 24" x 20". i think this is the correct size.

I currently have in this tank; one guppy, one molly of which i am not sure (from my old tank), two white Mollys, two dalmation mollys, two female swordtails. They all seem to be living fine and are currently about the same size. Could you please confirm that these can all live together in peace?

However, to my amazement, the other day i came home from work and my girlfriend had discovered baby fish in the tank, i collected them together and (on the advice of a local pet store..) i put these into a holding net in the same tank. there are 14-16 in total (cant seem to verify the count as they are so fast!) and are about 1cm. some are white, some are black and some are black & White. I presumed they were babies of the dalmations but could be wrong..

Finally, i know a long hard read!, i would just like to know:

-How fast will these grow and be able to be set free into the tank with the rest of the fish?
-Should all of these live or will some (statistically) be sent to the graveyard of sea?
-How many fish would live hapilly in a tank of this size and how does this convert into gallons?
-Is there any type of fish that I should stay away from with these kind of fish? (obviously not including such as pirhanas)

Thanks again, from just another newbie asking the same old questions...

 

[*Fishkies*]

Well first off to TFF. This is a great place to post your questions!!

Secondly Mollies need salt. Here is a LINK to the Livebearer's Section of this Forum. Check out that section, it will help you greatly in your success of keeping those type of fish.

-How fast will these grow and be able to be set free into the tank with the rest of the fish?

When they are bigger then the other fishies mouths that are in tank so they cannont be eaten. If you let them in the tank with the others when they are too little they will get eaten.

-Should all of these live or will some (statistically) be sent to the graveyard of sea?

Usually not all will live. Just because that's how it goes. So don't be to upset if some do die. It may only be three but some usually die.


*There was a link in one of theses posts somewhere of how to convert your tank exactly how ever i cannot seem to find it at the moment.

 

[Dansue]

Well first off to TFF. This is a great place to post your questions!!

Secondly Mollies need salt. Here is a LINK to the Livebearer's Section of this Forum. Check out that section, it will help you greatly in your success of keeping those type of fish.

-How fast will these grow and be able to be set free into the tank with the rest of the fish?

When they are bigger then the other fishies mouths that are in tank so they cannont be eaten. If you let them in the tank with the others when they are too little they will get eaten.

-Should all of these live or will some (statistically) be sent to the graveyard of sea?

Usually not all will live. Just because that's how it goes. So don't be to upset if some do die. It may only be three but some usually die.


*There was a link in one of theses posts somewhere of how to convert your tank exactly how ever i cannot seem to find it at the moment.

thanks a lot, you've been a great help! i really didn't know that you should add salt to the water (and i should have really ) but i definitely will do! i wouldn't want them getting fin rot or anything like that!!


i will try to post some pics soon of my tank. i really want to add more plants at the moment. but yea hopefully you guys will be able to see my babies!!

but just one more question, Will adding the salt (obviously i will buy a suitable salt from a pet store) not stress the baby mollies out too much??

Cheers,

Dan.

P.S. if you could recommend a good salt to use, it would be appreciated!

 

[*Fishkies*]

P.S. if you could recommend a good salt to use, it would be appreciated!

Check out this topic HERE on salt suggestions. I do not have mollies at the moment, and so there fore cannot advise you as to a great maker of salt. However i'm sure if you post and ask in the livebearer's section you'll get an answer!!


The salt should not harm the babies. As mollies need salt to live. SO if anything it should help them thrive better!


Best of luck!!!

 

[NutMutt]

I think your white Mollies are actually Silver Mollies -not sure. I can tell you that Mollies are very sensitive to water changes. So try to aviod large water changes unless you are forced to because of large amounts of ammonia or whatever. Plus, they require clean water conditions and you can lose the "weaker" ones if you tank/filter is not properly cycled on time.

About the Molly you are not sure about. Perhaps it's a Platy? I have noticed that some Platies look a lot like Swordtails and even sometimes like Mollies. Hope this helps.

And yes, uploading pictures is a good idea. So good call...

Take Care

 

[fishlette]

Hi there,

I am new to the site (and to tropical fish really..), i et up a new tank a short while ago. I had a very small tank with just one guppy and one (i believe) molly. I recently upgraded this to a new tank which measures 30" x 24" x 20". i think this is the correct size.

I currently have in this tank; one guppy, one molly of which i am not sure (from my old tank), two white Mollys, two dalmation mollys, two female swordtails. They all seem to be living fine and are currently about the same size. Could you please confirm that these can all live together in peace?

However, to my amazement, the other day i came home from work and my girlfriend had discovered baby fish in the tank, i collected them together and (on the advice of a local pet store..) i put these into a holding net in the same tank. there are 14-16 in total (cant seem to verify the count as they are so fast!) and are about 1cm. some are white, some are black and some are black & White. I presumed they were babies of the dalmations but could be wrong..

Finally, i know a long hard read!, i would just like to know:

-How fast will these grow and be able to be set free into the tank with the rest of the fish?
-Should all of these live or will some (statistically) be sent to the graveyard of sea?
-How many fish would live hapilly in a tank of this size and how does this convert into gallons?
-Is there any type of fish that I should stay away from with these kind of fish? (obviously not including such as pirhanas)

Thanks again, from just another newbie asking the same old questions...

yes all those guys will live in peace together.

How fast will these grow and be able to be set free into the tank with the rest of the fish?

they grow at a reasonable rate if fed well and provided with good tank conditions. you can prob let them into the main tank at about 2-3 weeks or when they are close to 2cm in length. if fed well, by this point they will be large enough and fat enough not to be eaten. however i would still provide a lot of hiding places and dense plants so they can hide. i dont use breeding nets personally as i have a very heavily planted tank and have too many babies coming through to keep them in a breeding net. i may lose a couple here and there but my survival rate is very high.

Should all of these live or will some (statistically) be sent to the graveyard of sea?

there is nothing saying they all cant survive. if any do die and your water conditions are great then it may be that they are weaker or somehow sick.

How many fish would live hapilly in a tank of this size and how does this convert into gallons?

by my calculations your tank holds 231 litres or 61 gallons. it is generally one inch of fish per gallon.