Mollies are one of the most commonly raised fish in home aquariums. These are probably the most beautiful and varied species, with countless different forms. Currently, this genus has 40 species, so 39 of them are mollies. These fish are native to America, but their habitats can vary greatly.
For example, sailfin molly fish with sail-like have large dorsal fins, while ball-shaped mollies are morphs with a curved back and a large, rounded belly.
An interesting fact about mollies is that, like guppies, they are livestock. This means that they keep eggs in their bodies until they can give birth to live young right in the water.
The sailfin mollie is probably one of the most exotic fish of any kind. However, mollies are perhaps the most difficult of all the ordinary live-bearers of life, as they are the most gentle of them all. When chilled or exposed in any way to any environment, they are prone to developing a disease known as “shimmies.” It is not an infectious disease but just a compounding of stressful symptoms.
Can Different Kinds of Molly Fish Bred Live & Mate Together?
Different types of mollies can be bred together in the same tank. The only requirement is that the different types of mollies are given enough space to breed.
Although there are several varieties of molly fish, all of them can be mated because regardless of the color or configuration of the fins, they belong to the same species, and each male quickly fertilizes all females.
For the most part, mollies are easily bred by a single female, capable of producing over a hundred baby mollies.
If you keep different mollies in your aquarium, the males with the largest fins and the brightest color will mostly reproduce with females as they are hierarchical fish.
Simply put, mollies of different colors and shapes are the same fish, and they reproduce quickly.
As with breeding, these fish are of the same species and will live together, although the first time they are added to a new aquarium, albeit order must be established.
Positioning can take several days, but once the fish are set, they will swim together, and one of them will only spend a short time before joining the others.
Typical Behavior
They are calm most of the time but may show signs of aggression in crowded areas or when surrounded by aggressive tank mates. Therefore, it is essential that their tank is large enough and have suitable tank mates (more on this later).
Mollies are active and social, which is why they enjoy schooling together. The shoal should be predominantly female, as males are known to harass and stress females.
It is easy to find personalities in such active fish. By observing them for a while, you will quickly become familiar with them, as you will notice their differences.
Diet and Feeding
In nature, mollies feed almost exclusively on plants and algae, so they need to eat a lot of spirulina, even boiled spinach, finely chopped to stay healthy. They love to eat algae in the aquarium and feed endlessly on it, looking for options to nibble.
Sailfin Mollies are available in several colors. Although these fish breed easily, young raised in tanks rarely develop sailfin and are only 3–31/2 inches long. But grown in a backyard pond, the astounding pearls with embellished sail fins will appear in about four months.
How Many Mollies Should Be Kept Together?
Spending time with mollies will amaze you with their unique personality and interesting behavior.
Therefore, you will soon want to add more mollies to your aquarium. But how many mollies can you add to your aquarium? To get an answer, it is important to understand how mollies usually behave.
Although they are mostly peaceful and sociable, mollies can become aggressive when there are too many fish in the tank or when other aggressive fish surround them. This is why you need to pay close attention to the size of your tank and the choice of tank mates when keeping mollies.
Ideally, you should have a 10 gallon for a molly fish.
Depending on the type, you can add up to four moles to the tank. However, for Sailfins and other larger mollies, you will need to set up a 30-gallon aquarium. Each additional molly will need about 3 extra gallons to live comfortably.
Mollies tend to go on most of the time, so you should keep them in groups of 4 or more. If you plan on raising more than 4 mollies, make sure you get at least a 20-gallon tank.
A 45-gallon tank should be the ideal choice if you plan on handling multiple shoals of mollies.
Keep in mind that male mollies are known to disturb and stress females. Thus, to prevent aggressive behavior in shallow water, females must prevail.
Therefore, it is extremely important to consider both genders when setting up an aquarium. We recommend a ratio between three females and one male.
Since male mollies are aggressive breeders, adding more females should distract the males in between. Thus, no female will get constant attention.
Failure to comply with this ratio will lead to stress in female mollies; hence, they’ll stop eating and eventually starve to death.
Can Mollies Kill Each Other?
Yes, it is possible depending on the size of the tank and the number of mollies in the group. Also, the group dynamics of male X # compared to female X # and a sudden change in dynamics. If there are many males in the same tank and only a few females, the males will fight each other to chase the female.
Do Mollies Interbreed?
Although there are several varieties of molly fish, they are very easy to breed because all colors belong to the same species, and all males and females breed with each other.
Why is my Molly Attacking Other Fish?
The Molly fish tends to bother and attack other fish when under stress. This usually occurs when the water parameters are incorrect, including pH, temperature, and ammonia levels. However, Molly will also behave aggressively when breeding or using an aquarium with inappropriate teammates.
Why are My Mollies Fighting?
Molly fish will chase and look aggressive, mainly related to mating rituals, which include attention-seeking behavior. This is when a male molly chases a female molly or aggressively fights other male mollies in a tank.
Final Thoughts
Thus, mollies are ideal creatures for aquarium lovers, especially those just starting. If you are getting a molly, keep them in groups of 4 in a 10-gallon tank.
Now that you have many ideas about mollies, including how much you can keep together in your tank.