Guppies And Mollies

[sandyroz]

I've had 6 guppies (2 males, 5 females) in a 10 gallon tank for around two weeks now and along with an extra guppy I received two Sailfin Dalmatian mollies (a male and female). I didn't realize at that time that many people have had issues with keeping the two together and although I'm planning on upgrading to a larger tank soon, the 10 gallon is all I have to work with for now. I have to two mollies in a 2-3 gallon overnight until I can figure out if I should put them in with the guppies. I did try putting them in and the guppies hid around the plants while the mollies swam in one place, not really moving around the tank much, so I put them back in the small fish bowl. Until I get a larger tank either for the guppies or for the guppies and mollies, I do have a 40 gallon where my african side-neck turtle is. She tends to stay more on the bathing rocks and the water is at a set temperature of 78 f. There is a filter and a heater. The only problem is, my turtle does eat fish, but only small feeder minnows. The mollies are about twice or even three times as large which for many turtles are too large to be eaten. What do you guys suggest that I do in the meantime? 

 

[BelldandyShanny]

why would keeping them together be a problem? other than that they can interbreed I don't see why it would be a problem.

 

[sandyroz]

From what I've read, some people have successfully been able to keep them together in larger tanks (20+) and others have gotten aggressive mollies that tend to nip at the guppies tails. I've gotten in contact with someone who could possibly lend me a 20 gallon in a matter of less then a week, but until then do you recommend to put them in with the guppies? I am very aware that the 2 gallon is a death chamber for them, I wouldn't even put a guppy in there let alone two fairly large mollies.

 

[BelldandyShanny]

for a weekish... I'd think you can get away with it, just change out a portion of water probably daily.... not like a huge amount though

 

[the_lock_man]

A 10G is too small for "normal" mollies, let alone sailfins, which are larger again. They'd be ok in there for a week, but if you can get hold of something bigger from Craigslist, that'd be much better - Sailfins need a 3' tank, really.

 

[ech0o]

Yea mollys are not nano tank fish at all, they actually get very large and are extremely active fish.   
 
I don't believe your mollys are actual sailfins, probably just male dalmations with tall fins, and yes male mollys are territorial and will fight eachother.  You need MUCH more space to house 2 of them, and they probably won't fight if they were in a larger tank, (like the lock man said, 3' is reccomended, somewhere around 25-30 gallons).
 
I see you can get a 20g, that is certainly better than the 10g, and I would get them into it as soon as you can!  You should notice significantly less aggression at that point, an eventually in the future I would reccomend getting into one of those 29gallon tanks, perfect for mollys.

 

[the_lock_man]

Thing with mollies, of course, is that they prefer a brackish environment.

 

[ech0o]

Thing with mollies, of course, is that they prefer a brackish environment.

 
This is true very true, although I currently keep them in all 3 enviornments, FW, brackish, and SW, and they seem to thrive and reproduce in any of the three!

 

[sandyroz]

I have added them in with my guppies for the day after successfully living through the night in the 3 gallon (poor fish) and as of now they are doing fairly well with the guppies (no snipping at tails or anything). I'm not experience with Brackish or salt water so until I do some more research I am going to keep them in freshwater for now. I'm hoping they will be fine for another week or two until I will be able to get either a 20 or 30 gallon. Could they possibly live with the guppies in the 30 gal.? Thank you all for your replies!  

 

[BelldandyShanny]

guppies too can tolerate a little salt, so I don't see why not (fresh or brackish really doesn't seem to be a big deal) Depends on what else you may want to add down the line