How Long Does Molly Fish Live?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The average lifespan is around

three to five years

. While they aren't the longest-living freshwater species out there, there is some wiggle room depending on what species you get. The quality of care you provide will also impact their lifespan significantly.

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 molly fish hard to keep alive?

Water type: Hard, freshwater Tank setup: Plants, caves Acidity: 6.7–8.5 pH Water hardness: 15–30 dkH

Do molly fish get big?

A full-grown molly fish will usually be around 3 inches or 7 cm long, the males, whereas the females are a bit larger and can grow to around 4 inches or 10 cm long. The molly fish will take around 3 to 4 months to grow to their full size, and in part, this will depend on their water conditions, diet, and more.

Can a Molly live with a Betta?

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 many Molly can go 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.

Do mollies need live plants?

The molly can also benefit from aragonite sand, as it disperses beneficial minerals into the water. Using the substrate as an anchor, add several live plants (

mollies use these plants for shelter

). It's good to provide taller plants like Anubias as well as shorter varieties like Java fern.

Can you keep only male mollies?


It is recommended that only one male molly be kept in a tank

since males will fight with each other to establish a dominant alpha fish. With this type of fish, you should stick to the 1 gallon of water per 1′′ of fish. Since mollies usually grow up to 2′′, a 10 gal tank should have no more than 4-5 fish.

How many babies does a black molly have?

Once the female is pregnant, the gestation usually take about 7-8 weeks, at which point the female may deliver

upwards of one hundred babies

. On average, the female will deliver anywhere from 40-100 fry, though you can expect younger female mollies to be on the lower end of that scale.

Do 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.

Can mollies live in tap water?


Yes, mollies can live in tap water

. Mollies are very hardy and can tolerate various living conditions quite easily. With that said, you need to beware of water contaminants. Tap water in certain areas may be contaminated with heavy metals or chemicals that can harm your fish.

How long can mollies go without food?

Type of fish: Period it can safely live with no food: Danios up to 14 days Tetras up to 10 days Platies between 10 and 14 days Mollies

up to 2 weeks

What food do mollies eat?

In the wild, mollies are omnivores and feed on

small invertebrates, algae and plant matter

. In the home aquarium, they should be fed a high quality flake food, and a variety of vegetables.

How many babies do mollies have?

Gestation and Birth

Female mollies will gestate their young for about 60 days. They can give birth to

between 40 and 100 fry

. Mollies that are young or are having one of their first few pregnancies will tend to give birth to a smaller rather than larger number of fry.

How do mollies sleep?

Can molly live with guppies?


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 shrimp?

Premium Member. yes.

Mollies will eat most anything

. Most anything will eat CRS, or any shrimp small enough for them to tear apart.

Can mollies and guppies breed?


Guppies and Mollies can easily create hybrids if they are kept in the right conditions

. There are two names for two types of hybrids. A hybrid fry from a male Guppy and a female Molly is called Golly, whereas a fry from a male Molly and a female Guppy is called Muppy.

Can you mix mollies?

Can Different Types of Molly Fish Mate (Breed)? Albeit there being several varieties of molly fish,

they all can be mated

because regardless of the color or fin configuration, they are the same species, and any male will readily fertilize with all females.

Do molly fish need heaters?

As Mollies 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.

What temperature do mollies like?

Mollies are a tropical fish that needs temperatures in the range of

75°-80°F (24°-26.7°C)

. A heater is an absolute necessity that will keep the water warm and hold it at a steady temperature.

Do mollies need air pump?

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 often should you feed molly fish?

Number of Feedings per Day

In general, most fish do quite well on

one feeding per day

. However, some owners prefer to feed their fish twice a day. Young, growing fish might need to eat three or more times per day. Regardless of the number of feedings, the key is to keep each feeding very small.

Do mollies like heavily planted tanks?

What is this?

Guppies, Platies, Swordtails, and Mollies do just as well in planted aquascapes as they do in community aquariums

. Live plants also offer their babies a better chance to survive, especially if you keep weedy plants like Java Moss or Micro Sword Plants.

Can you keep 4 male mollies together?

Mollies tend to stick together most of the time, which is why

you should keep them in groups of 4 or more

. If you are planning to keep more than 4 mollies, make sure you get a 20-gallon tank at least. A 45- gallon tank should be a perfect choice if you plan to manage multiple shoals of mollies.

Will 2 male mollies fight?

The reason mollies are fighting and chasing each other around the tank is all down to mating behavior. The fighting you are seeing is

males either chasing females or sparing with other males

. Having the male to female ratio correct will help solve the problem.

How can you tell if a molly is pregnant?

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.