The colorful active Molly, Short-finned Molly, Sailfin Molly, or Mexican Sailfin Molly has long held the position of being a most popular fish because it is peaceful, relatively hardy, inexpensive, and readily bred!
Anonymous - 2011-04-20 I am a beginner to the world of fish, and I think I know what I am doing, but want it to be verified.
Here's my setup: 30 gal tank with 2 Sunburst Mollies and 2 sunset platies. I have the temp controlled at 72-78 degrees, I have some big rocks (one big enough to provide shelter), and a few plants, as well as a Chinese dragon bubbler.
Here's my question: I added a Green Spotted Puffer to the mix. Is that ok? I went to WalMart, and their fish fact tag says that the puffer will be ok with Mollies. He seems to be swimming around the whole tank, not bothering other fish, but I am worried about it after reading this website. Any suggestions?
Also, you might not be able to help on this, but my male Mollie keeps picking on the female. I was told to expect them to mate, but it looks more like torture and not mating. It could be that I am a beginner (outside that of a Beta) and just do not know what to expect. Any help here would be appreciated as well!
Thanks in advance!
Click For Replies (8)
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-20 You can click on the links attached to provide you with more detailed information on the fish you have selected. Just a note to say that it is recommended that if you have other fish with a Pufferfish, you have at least a 50 gallon tank. The puffer fella likes to nip at fins. He is not supposed to be agressive and he is supposed to get along with other fish but you need a larger tank. You need a bit of vegatation there for the fish to hide and play in, whatever. Two mollies mating (movie on U-Tube) looks like the guy is trying to slam her, push her and shove her. Weird to see but it must work. Now maybe yours are fighting so watch the movie and then you'll know for sure. Looks like they were fighting to me too.
Anonymous - 2011-04-20 Hmm. I wasn't told that I would need a 50, but that could be the case. The little guy has been in the tank for about 3 hours now, and he is starting to warm up to it. He swims around a lot, and doesn't seem to bother other fish. He was almost completely grey when I added him, but now his head and some of his body is back to Green. I have a 10 gal that my Beta is currently residing in that I could move him to. I bought some live plants tonight as well, so within a few weeks I should have some more greenery. I currently only have plastic plants, good ole WalMart doesn't say anything about live plants being a necessity.
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-21 Yep, the information says if you just have the puffer, then a 20 gallon tank is fine but if you are adding (or have) other fish, you would need at least a 50 gallon. Puffer fish also need something to wear their teeth down so snails or some such other hard food. The 10 gallon tank is too small for the puffwer, definitely too small if there is another fish in it. Did you find the move on Mollies on U-Tube? There is one on just gold fish also. Strange. Yes, you need some plants. Have fun and enjoy. Remember all these fish are going to get bigger. The mollies will probably go 4 - 6 inches.
Anonymous - 2011-04-21 Yes. Well, I took Mr Puff to Petco and donated him. I decided that I didn't want to ruin his little life just because I jumped in without surveying the water first. I think once I am out of an apartment and have my bigger tanks I will go get another puffer and try again. Thanks for all your help!
Oh, random question. How many more fish can/ should I put in this 30 gallon? Currently I have 2 Mollies and 2 Platies. Thanks!
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-21 I am responding to the other email which tells me you took the puffer back. You are asking how many additional fish you can put in a 30 gallon tank with 2 mollies and 2 platies. If you think 1 inch per gallon (just as a rule of thumb) and subtract out for gravel, decorations etc a 30 gallon should leave you with about 27 gallons of swiming area. So the two mollies are 12 inches (as adults) and the two platies are 5 inches (as adults) which equals 17 inches. So you can add two other compatible fish whose adult size is not greater than 5 inches each. OK? Yeah probably best to take back the puffer. Good thinking on your part.
Dioafui - 2011-05-09 You're fine, but the male fish will chase the female to death. You should have at least three females per male, because of his desire to pro-create. I don't know about puffers, but you spelled betta wrong.
nic - 2011-08-05 Here's where you went wrong. NEVER buy fish from Walmart they are cruel to their fish. They all have an illness and are not healthy fish and Walmart does not have any idea how to care for fish. They just want to make money. I had gotten a mollie and it had 50 babies and think first about how big each baby gets. hope this helps.
p.s get live plants like water sprites
brookes - 2013-03-17 thats not true i bought mine from walmart and it was a little agrisssive at the first 4 days then it got calm it was just scared thats all. all i got to say is love your green spotted puffers. i mean who can't love that little pug face of there's...lol..!
Da Funk - 2013-03-15 Hi guys , this doesn't really have to do do with fish themselves, but im hoping you could help me anyway.I have been using the tetra brand water conditioner (AquaSafe) for a while now and I was wondering if I could use that and Api's Stress Zyme, too.I know it sounds a little stupid but I would really appreciate it if one of you could get back to me on that. Thanks
Margaret - 2013-01-19 My dalmatian molly is very heavily pregnant to the point that she looks more like a miniature puffer fish. Her scales are standing out. Is there anything I can do to help her?
Click For Replies (2)
Roland Tan Sabañico - 2013-01-19 I think she is not pregnant. It is a kind of disease, what they called Dropsy. Just search for more info if I'm correct.
cassye - 2013-01-27 It sounds a lot like dropsy. The scales sticking out are called pineconing. It's caused by stress, and/or poor water conditions. Dropsy is when the fishes kidneys retain waste, intead of releasing it. My fish has had this, and I've found that adding a little bit of Epsom salt to the water helps to relieve it some. Also, maracyn is what is used to treat it. My fishy still lives, I wish the best for yours.
Samuel Brown - 2004-05-14 The Sailfin Mollie is best if not bred for colors other than their natural colors. When in tanks with other fish and are also very peaceable fishes. Like most mollies the Sailfin Mollie reproduces fast in larger habitats most commonly. I know this from observation of this animal in both wild and domesticated states. For more suitable habitats the Sailfin Mollies (and mosquito fish)are best kept in water with a low saline or brackish water level and a ph of 6.8-8.6 with vegitation that trives in an abundant supply.
Sarah - 2004-03-13 I love mollies! If a fish can be lively and friendly... they are lively and friendly! They follow your finger on the glass and they are always doing something silly. We have 3 females and one male. The male is a dalmation sailfin molly, and 2 of the females are silver lyretails, and the last female is also silver, but shes a sailfin too. I havent seen any fry yet...maybe because I have danios and tetras, but Im going to look next time so I can net them! I recommend them to anyone!
Lindsey - 2013-02-06 My molly now is swimming wierd.It is like his spinal cord is croocked and he has been swimming verticaly latly. Doaes anyone know what is going on?
Click For Replies (1)
Lindsey - 2013-02-06 wow i had a lot of typos, sorry
Lindsey - 2013-01-31 Recently my 20 gallon tank has had a fatal ich outbreak. I have taken care of the tank (disinfected), so that is ok. My only surviving fish was a dalmation molly. He is not currently in the 20 gallon tank but a quarantine tank (1.5 gal.), when I first put him in he did have some ich but it is now gone. My problem is now the molly has these rust coored spots on them. They are in his tail mainly but also on mouth and gill(?) area. I don't think it is some sort of infection though. They shimmer like it might be some new coloration.Does anyone know what it is?
Click For Replies (1)
Jeremy Roche - 2013-02-01 Could just be the molly's color is changing. environment can do that sometimes.
Dan Miller - 2013-01-06 My male silver sailfin molly is turning yellowish orange on his face (mostly around the nasal area). Why is this happening?
Click For Replies (1)
Jeremy Roche - 2013-01-06 Mollies, especially the fancier varieties, have a lot of different colors in thier lineage. These genes can get expressed at different times in their lifetime. Most mollys will have at least some discoloration, i.e. some yellow spots in a mostly black and white dalmation molly, or blue spots. Most likely some great great grandmother was a yellow guppy or something similar, and those genes just haven't been complelely bred.
Rob - 2012-11-30 I have 4 mollies in a tank and 2 of the 4 have almost like a hole in their gill coverings does anyone have any idea what they are? They act fine for the most part they still eat and all but IDK. :{
Click For Replies (1)
Charlie Roche - 2012-12-01 Animal World has a page of various diseases symptoms and the corresponding treatments for fish. Follow this link and look up the symptoms as you see them on your moor and the corresponding treatment is there.
The colorful active Molly, Short-finned Molly, Sailfin Molly, or Mexican Sailfin Molly has long held the position of being a most popular fish because it is peaceful, relatively hardy, inexpensive, and readily bred!
I am a beginner to the world of fish, and I think I know what I am doing, but want it to be verified.
Here's my setup: 30 gal tank with 2 Sunburst Mollies and 2 sunset platies. I have the temp controlled at 72-78 degrees, I have some big rocks (one big enough to provide shelter), and a few plants, as well as a Chinese dragon bubbler.
Here's my question: I added a Green Spotted Puffer to the mix. Is that ok? I went to WalMart, and their fish fact tag says that the puffer will be ok with Mollies. He seems to be swimming around the whole tank, not bothering other fish, but I am worried about it after reading this website. Any suggestions?
Also, you might not be able to help on this, but my male Mollie keeps picking on the female. I was told to expect them to mate, but it looks more like torture and not mating. It could be that I am a beginner (outside that of a Beta) and just do not know what to expect. Any help here would be appreciated as well!
Thanks in advance!
You can click on the links attached to provide you with more detailed information on the fish you have selected. Just a note to say that it is recommended that if you have other fish with a Pufferfish, you have at least a 50 gallon tank. The puffer fella likes to nip at fins. He is not supposed to be agressive and he is supposed to get along with other fish but you need a larger tank. You need a bit of vegatation there for the fish to hide and play in, whatever. Two mollies mating (movie on U-Tube) looks like the guy is trying to slam her, push her and shove her. Weird to see but it must work. Now maybe yours are fighting so watch the movie and then you'll know for sure. Looks like they were fighting to me too.
Hmm. I wasn't told that I would need a 50, but that could be the case. The little guy has been in the tank for about 3 hours now, and he is starting to warm up to it. He swims around a lot, and doesn't seem to bother other fish. He was almost completely grey when I added him, but now his head and some of his body is back to Green. I have a 10 gal that my Beta is currently residing in that I could move him to. I bought some live plants tonight as well, so within a few weeks I should have some more greenery. I currently only have plastic plants, good ole WalMart doesn't say anything about live plants being a necessity.
Yep, the information says if you just have the puffer, then a 20 gallon tank is fine but if you are adding (or have) other fish, you would need at least a 50 gallon. Puffer fish also need something to wear their teeth down so snails or some such other hard food. The 10 gallon tank is too small for the puffwer, definitely too small if there is another fish in it.
Did you find the move on Mollies on U-Tube? There is one on just gold fish also. Strange.
Yes, you need some plants. Have fun and enjoy. Remember all these fish are going to get bigger. The mollies will probably go 4 - 6 inches.
Yes. Well, I took Mr Puff to Petco and donated him. I decided that I didn't want to ruin his little life just because I jumped in without surveying the water first. I think once I am out of an apartment and have my bigger tanks I will go get another puffer and try again. Thanks for all your help!
Oh, random question. How many more fish can/ should I put in this 30 gallon? Currently I have 2 Mollies and 2 Platies. Thanks!
I am responding to the other email which tells me you took the puffer back. You are asking how many additional fish you can put in a 30 gallon tank with 2 mollies and 2 platies. If you think 1 inch per gallon (just as a rule of thumb) and subtract out for gravel, decorations etc a 30 gallon should leave you with about 27 gallons of swiming area. So the two mollies are 12 inches (as adults) and the two platies are 5 inches (as adults) which equals 17 inches. So you can add two other compatible fish whose adult size is not greater than 5 inches each. OK? Yeah probably best to take back the puffer. Good thinking on your part.
You're fine, but the male fish will chase the female to death. You should have at least three females per male, because of his desire to pro-create. I don't know about puffers, but you spelled betta wrong.
Here's where you went wrong. NEVER buy fish from Walmart they are cruel to their fish. They all have an illness and are not healthy fish and Walmart does not have any idea how to care for fish. They just want to make money. I had gotten a mollie and it had 50 babies and think first about how big each baby gets. hope this helps.
p.s get live plants like water sprites
thats not true i bought mine from walmart and it was a little agrisssive at the first 4 days then it got calm it was just scared thats all. all i got to say is love your green spotted puffers. i mean who can't love that little pug face of there's...lol..!
Hi guys , this doesn't really have to do do with fish themselves, but im hoping you could help me anyway.I have been using the tetra brand water conditioner (AquaSafe) for a while now and I was wondering if I could use that and Api's Stress Zyme, too.I know it sounds a little stupid but I would really appreciate it if one of you could get back to me on that. Thanks
My dalmatian molly is very heavily pregnant to the point that she looks more like a miniature puffer fish. Her scales are standing out. Is there anything I can do to help her?
I think she is not pregnant. It is a kind of disease, what they called Dropsy. Just search for more info if I'm correct.
It sounds a lot like dropsy. The scales sticking out are called pineconing. It's caused by stress, and/or poor water conditions. Dropsy is when the fishes kidneys retain waste, intead of releasing it. My fish has had this, and I've found that adding a little bit of Epsom salt to the water helps to relieve it some. Also, maracyn is what is used to treat it. My fishy still lives, I wish the best for yours.
The Sailfin Mollie is best if not bred for colors other than their natural colors. When in tanks with other fish and are also very peaceable fishes. Like most mollies the Sailfin Mollie reproduces fast in larger habitats most commonly. I know this from observation of this animal in both wild and domesticated states. For more suitable habitats the Sailfin Mollies (and mosquito fish)are best kept in water with a low saline or brackish water level and a ph of 6.8-8.6 with vegitation that trives in an abundant supply.
I love mollies! If a fish can be lively and friendly... they are lively and friendly! They follow your finger on the glass and they are always doing something silly. We have 3 females and one male. The male is a dalmation sailfin molly, and 2 of the females are silver lyretails, and the last female is also silver, but shes a sailfin too. I havent seen any fry yet...maybe because I have danios and tetras, but Im going to look next time so I can net them! I recommend them to anyone!
My molly now is swimming wierd.It is like his spinal cord is croocked and he has been swimming verticaly latly. Doaes anyone know what is going on?
wow i had a lot of typos, sorry
Recently my 20 gallon tank has had a fatal ich outbreak. I have taken care of the tank (disinfected), so that is ok. My only surviving fish was a dalmation molly. He is not currently in the 20 gallon tank but a quarantine tank (1.5 gal.), when I first put him in he did have some ich but it is now gone. My problem is now the molly has these rust coored spots on them. They are in his tail mainly but also on mouth and gill(?) area. I don't think it is some sort of infection though. They shimmer like it might be some new coloration.Does anyone know what it is?
Could just be the molly's color is changing. environment can do that sometimes.
My male silver sailfin molly is turning yellowish orange on his face (mostly around the nasal area). Why is this happening?
Mollies, especially the fancier varieties, have a lot of different colors in thier lineage. These genes can get expressed at different times in their lifetime. Most mollys will have at least some discoloration, i.e. some yellow spots in a mostly black and white dalmation molly, or blue spots. Most likely some great great grandmother was a yellow guppy or something similar, and those genes just haven't been complelely bred.
i have one male molly in a community tank, is it okay if i add more males? i really don't want any babies. thank you!
Mollies will usually do just fine with multiple males.
I have 4 mollies in a tank and 2 of the 4 have almost like a hole in their gill coverings does anyone have any idea what they are? They act fine for the most part they still eat and all but IDK. :{
Animal World has a page of various diseases symptoms and the corresponding treatments for fish. Follow this link and look up the symptoms as you see them on your moor and the corresponding treatment is there.
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/information/Diseases.htm