One of the most widely kept fish amongst the fish-keeping enthusiasts. They’re quite simple to look after, making them excellent for beginner fish owners. Mollies come in a variety of colors and are quite low-maintenance.
Mollies come in various sizes and colors, but they all have the same compatibility, breeding, and care requirements.
They belong to the genus Poecilia. Due to their adaptability, they could be found in seawater sometimes, although mollies are freshwater fishes.
Mollies prefer a sandy substrate at the bottom of the tank, which closely reflects their native habitat and enough live plants to provide them with the protection they require.
The plants also assist with many other concerns, such as assisting them in finding algae to eat, and they offer a lot to the aquarium in general.
How Many Mollies Should be Housed Together in a Tank?
Mollies will impress you with their unique personalities and unusual habits as you spend time with them. As a result, you’ll want to introduce extra mollies to your aquarium as soon as possible.
Although Mollies come across as calmer and affectionate, if there are too many in the same tank, they tend to become quarrelsome. The size of your aquarium and the tankmates you choose are other significant factors while keeping mollies.
Mollies require a tank with a minimum capacity of 10 gallons. Each extra molly in the tank will require an additional 5+ gallons of tank space.
Keep mollies in groups of four or more because they tend to stick together most of the time.
If you want to have more than four mollies, you’ll need at least a 20-gallon tank. If you plan to handle many shoals of mollies, a 45-gallon tank should be enough.
Mollies are a schooling fish that dislikes being kept alone. It is advised that a tank have at least 3-4 mollies, if not more. In general, the more, the merrier, provided you have a large enough tank. If you plan to handle many shoals of mollies, a 45-gallon tank should be enough.
20/3= 6.67 in a 20-gallon tank. On rounding up, you can add up to 6 mollies of 3 inches.
If the molly fish is 4 inches long, a 20-gallon tank can hold 20/4= five mollies. However, adding five fish would be too crowded; therefore, cutting the number to four Mollies is recommended. If your Mollies are 2 inches long, you can add up to 9 of them.
Learn About the Right Male-To-Female Mollies Ratio!
Two to three mollies are necessary for one single male molly.
Mollies are mostly docile. There are some exceptions in male mollies though.
If they are housed in a crowded tank with few females, they become territorial.
This is dangerous and stressful for the female mollies.
The female may not make it through the grueling ordeal.
Second, the male mollies may battle for the females, which is something you don’t want. Keeping a high number of females will help to reduce male hostility.
They’ll be kept occupied by the diversity of mating possibilities available. In the long run, this will protect the females.
The Right Food for Your Mollies!
Mollies like to munch on:
- Plants
- Algae in the tank
- Insects and bugs
- Mosquito Larvae
Because it’s not difficult to replicate this diet in captivity, feeding them should be simple. They enjoy consuming algae so you tank will also be clean.
You’ll need to put in less work for maintenance because mollies will eat a lot of the algae.
To complement their desire for vegetables, use several substances found in your home. Blanched veggies is a great choice. Consider supplementing this diet with fish pellets and flakes if you want to provide them.
You might choose frozen foods for the protein component of their diet.
How Long Does a Molly Fish Live?
Molly fish have a two- to five-year lifetime. This freshwater fish does not have a long life expectancy. Their longevity is mostly determined by the environment in which they are kept as pets.
Mollies’ longevity is influenced by water quality, as they are susceptible to infections in poor water. Females have a longer lifetime than males, owing to the males’ lesser size and predation by predators.