Are Black Mollies Tropical Fish?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Black Molly:

Tropical Fish

for Freshwater Aquariums.

Do black mollies need a heater?

As are that are found in tropical climates,

they will need a heater

. The only exception to this is if you already live in a place that maintains hot climates.

Is Black Molly a freshwater fish?


In the wild they primarily inhabit freshwater streams, but they can also be found living in brackish coastal sea waters and swamps

. There is a mistaken belief in the hobby that black mollies are a brackish water fish, and while they are highly adaptable to salt water conditions, they prefer a freshwater environment.

How many black mollies should be kept together?

What is this? Black Mollies are generally a peaceful community fish, but multiple males kept in the same tank can become aggressive, and females which are outnumbered by males will tend to be harassed. The optimal ratio that we recommend is

3 females to each male

.

Do mollies clean the tank?

Indeed,

Mollies can help you keep your aquarium free of algae and relatively clean

. They do so by picking and eating the algae that naturally grow on the rocks and plants of your aquarium.

How big do black mollies get?

Size:

6 to 15 cm (31⁄2 to 6 inches)

. Preferred Water Chemistry: Hard, basic fresh water to brackish or marine. Mollies are euryhaline, meaning they do well in fresh, brackish, or marine systems, but they do not thrive in soft water.

How many mollies should be kept together?


At least three or four mollies

should be kept together. Mollies are shoaling fish, which means they're more comfortable living with fish of the same species. While you should keep several mollies together, be sure not to overcrowd the tank.

Are Black Mollies cold water fish?

Can Black Mollies live in cold water?

No, Black Mollies can not live in cold water

. Black Mollies are a tropical species of fish and as such need to be kept in water which is between 76°F and 80°:F (24°C to 26°C).

Do mollies need a bubbler?

Naturally occurring bubbles from filtration are not enough, so

an air pump or air stone is necessary

. Pump-generated bubbles aerate your aquarium, providing your mollies with breathable oxygen. These bubbles also help minimize water maintenance by aiding filtration.

How many mollies Can I put in a 10 gallon tank?

You can put

three mollies

in a 10-gallon tank. As a general rule, an inch of fish requires one gallon of water. In captivity, mollies usually grow to be 3–4.5 inches long, so each fish will need around three gallons of water to swim freely.

Can mollies live with Tetras?

Choose molly fish tank mates that also enjoy hard, alkaline conditions. This includes other livebearers like guppies and platies,

tank raised tetras

and barbs, danios, and even african cichlids (so long as they are peaceful species).

Can mollies eat tropical fish food?


API Tropical Flakes

They are slow sinking flakes, making the perfect for Mollies. This stuff is meant to be fed to your fish twice per day, or in other words, unlike the above shrimp, daphnia, or krill, this is one of the foods best used for regular feeding as opposed to a snack or treat.

Are black mollies schooling fish?


Mollies are not schooling fish

and do not need to be in a group to thrive. The notion that Mollies are schooling fish might stem from the fact that these fish are livebearers and thus should be in a ratio of one male to several females. They're always in a group of no less than 3 fish.

How fast do black mollies grow?

How fast do black mollies grow? Black mollies tend to grow a little bit slower than normal mollies. It may take a black molly around

9 to 10 months

to grow to its full size, which for males is around 3 inches in length, and for females about 5 inches in length at most.

Are black mollies fin nippers?


Yes, mollies are fin nippers

. Despite being peaceful and friendly, mollies are notorious for being fin nippers. Male mollies especially love nipping the fins of other males to establish their dominance and defend their territory.

Are Black Mollies hardy fish?

Black Molly

The Black Molly is also known as the common Black Molly, is

a hardy fish

that is well suited to beginners. It does well in water between 68 and 82-degrees Fahrenheit and prefers a tank that is larger than 30 gallons. Black Molly's like when you keep the pH between 7 and 7.8.

Do Black Mollies eat their babies?


Cannibalism is normal with mollies

and other livebearers like guppies and platys. As fecund as they are, you don't really need to worry about saving every last one.

Is Black Molly algae eater?


Black mollies mostly pick on hair algae that grow on the leaves of the plant

. To make mollies an effective algae-eater, you need to severely underfeed them. For the surface algae, one molly can keep 20 gallons of water clear. They would nibble at every piece of algae that hangs off plants.

What fish are compatible with black mollies?

  • Guppy Fish (Poecilia reticulata)
  • Endlers (Poecilia wingei)
  • Platys (Xiphophorus)
  • Danios (Cyprinidae)
  • Tetris (Characiformes)
  • Gouramis (Osphronemidae)
  • Angelfish (Pterophyllum altum)
  • Shrimp (Caridea)

What size tank do black mollies need?

The recommended tank size for Black Molly fish is

20 gallons

. You are required to keep your Black Molly in a large tank that provides reliable conditions of water, adequate pH level, and water temperature.

How long do black mollies live for?

General Care and Lifespan

They do best with a bit of salt added to their water to simulate their preferred environment in the wild. If properly housed and fed black mollies have a lifespan of

about three years in captivity

.

How many black mollies are in a tank?

How Many Mollies Should I Get? Mollies are schooling fish and they do not like to be kept alone. It is recommended to keep

at least 3-4 mollies

in a tank, if not more. Generally speaking, the more the merrier assuming you have a big enough tank.

Can guppies live with mollies?


Yes, guppies and mollies can live together

, and they actually work well together. However, if the right requirements aren't met, then some aggression may occur (from the mollies.) And there is always a slight risk that mollies will nip fish that have long fins such as guppies.

Can mollies live with bettas?

Some of the main things to remember when adding mollies and bettas together are:

Mollies survive better in slightly brackish water

, while you may think bettas wouldn't like this the international betta congress approve of using aquarium salt as a general preventative and believe it's also beneficial to bettas.

How hot is too hot for mollies?

Heat can become a problem if it is markedly elevated for a considerable period of time, which might be possible during a prolonged hot spell. The Angelfish, Guppies, Mollies, and Silver Shark, will have absolutely no problems with a water temperature of

81 degrees Fahrenheit, or 27 degrees Celsius

.

How many mollies Can I put in a 20 gallon tank?

Common Molly (Poecilia sphenops) Care level Easy Temperature 72-78°F How many mollies can you keep in a 20-gallon tank?

4-6

Why do my mollies keep dying?

There are 3 main reasons mollies die unexpectedly, they are

poor water quality, low oxygen levels, and diseases

. Another reason mollies die suddenly is low or high water temperature following a heater failure. How Do You Know Your Aquarium Water Quality Is Poor?

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.