Molly Fish Care Guide

Molly Fish Care Guide & Species Profile

The molly fish is a freshwater fish of the Poeciliidae family. There are several types of molly fish, including black molly fish, sailfin molly fish, Dalmatian molly fish, balloon molly fish, and lyretail molly fish.

Mollies come in a range of colors, including black, white, silver, red, and orange.

Due to their ability to adapt to almost any environment, molly fish are popular amongst beginner aquarists. Mollies are peaceful and get on well with other species, making the fish a good addition to a community tank.

~~FAQs~~

~Can you keep just two mollies?~

No, you can’t keep just two mollies. Mollies are shoaling fish, which means they seek safety and comfort in numbers. Even though keeping a pair of mollies is better than keeping only a single molly, it’s not enough. Mollies are more comfortable when they live in a larger group of at least three or four fish.

Make sure the tank is big enough to accommodate them all. As a general rule, a one-inch fish requires one gallon of water. On average, mollies grow to be 3–4.5 inches long, so each fish needs around three gallons of space to swim freely.

Thus, a 10-gallon tank should suffice for three mollies to cohabit comfortably.

~Do mollies clean the tank?~

Yes, mollies clean the tank. Mollies are opportunistic feeders, which means they’ll gladly eat anything available for them, including algae. These fish will keep your tank relatively clean and prevent algae blooms.

However, you can’t solely rely on mollies to keep your tank clean. Even though they reduce algae patches significantly, they won’t be able to eat all of them. Also, due to their big appetites, mollies produce a lot of poop, and at the same time, won’t eat fish poop.

Therefore, you’ll still need to clean the tank regularly and change the water weekly to maintain the cleanliness of the tank.

~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. A single molly fish needs approximately three gallons of water to swim freely, so a 10-gallon tank can hold a small group of three mollies comfortably.

Additionally, you should keep more female mollies than male mollies, as male mollies tend to be more aggressive. They can chase females to mate or even chase other males to establish their dominance.

To minimize aggression in your tank, try to keep a ratio of three females to each male molly.

~Do mollies need a heater?~

Yes, mollies need a heater. Mollies are tropical fish, so they need a warm temperature of 72°F to 78°F (22.2°C to 25.5°C) to survive. Despite being hardy, mollies can’t tolerate sub-optimal temperature very well. Sub-optimal temperatures can result in growth stunts, illnesses, and even death.

Even if your tank is located in a warm room, the temperature can still fluctuate throughout the day. You should get an adjustable heater so you can maintain the water temperature properly. Don’t forget to install a thermometer so you can easily monitor the water temperature.

~Why do molly fish stay at the top of the tank?~

Molly fish stay at the top of the tank due to sickness or poor water conditions. A damaged swim bladder is one of the most common reasons molly fish stay at the top of the tank.

Aside from floating at the water’s surface, fish with a damaged swim bladder will also struggle and swim erratically. Other illnesses that may be causing this behavior include parasite or bacterial infection, constipation, and bloating.

these are just some FAQs. there are still many FAQs and info in the application about Molly Fish