Balloon Mollies

[Twinklecaz]

Tell me about them!

There's some in my LFS and I'm thinking of getting one to be my Red Platy's (the bullied one) friend.

How big do they grow? What's their tempremant like? Hardy or not so? Stupid or good idea?

Thanks

 

[OldMan47]

Balloon mollies are just deformed, my prejudice is showing there, versions of regular mollies. They are as peaceful or aggressive as regular mollies and require much the same care. Since there are sometimes individual regular mollies that decide to bully other fish, I would expect much the same from balloon mollies as a group. Some would decide to bully other fish like their genetically normal cousins.

 

[AstonN24vantage]

they don't grow too big, and i kept one for like a year in my tank (which is an extremely long time for my tank

 

[Twinklecaz]

lol you wouldn't recommend one then Oldman

To be honest I was put off them when I read how they only live for about a year coz they're so inbred.

 

[AstonN24vantage]

lol mine got nipped up by an oscar. this is a word of warning: not the best tankmates, oscars and balloons.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Ha!

I really need a friend for my red platy! To be honest I was going to take the chance and get another platy yesterday but there were none that I liked/looked healthy.

 

[OldMan47]

With a platy, a molly would probably work out fine. Both are comparable in size and temperament. They are even fairly good matches in terms of preferred water conditions. Both do best with high mineral content water with a pH above 7.0 and in the mid 70s for temperature. Diet for both includes a high percentage of vegetable matter along with some animal protein like in fish meal. If you are looking to that particular mix, I would say it is worth a try.
You are right Caz, I really don't like them. I am a wild type livebearer person and can just barely appreciate the fancy livebearers like koi swordtails or lyretailed fish. I have kept and bred lots of pet shop fish in my life but am becoming more and more an exclusively wild person.