Sailfin Molly, brackish?

[Tony G.]

I've been doing some research(as always, just before you buy fish lol), and i have read that they should be kept in brackish water, though i have read in other places that they can acclimate to various types of water. Will they do ok in freshwater?
thanks guys!

[iloveengl]

IMHO, sailfin mollies are best suited to brackish conditions and are forced to adapt to freshwater tanks. Yes, they can survive, as most people force them to live in freshwater tanks, but it's not in their best interest and they will be healthier and happier in a brackish environment. I'm going to add a few of these beauties to my own brackish tank, so I can definitely understand your desire to have them. Here's an intriguing article you may want to read: http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.u...?article_id=52

[Tony G.]

wow. i had no idea. So would it be cruel if i kept one in my tank? I was kinda hoping to stock it with these:

1 DG
4 Guppies
3 Sailfins ( 1 male, 2 females)
1 balloon molly

and thats it..


would he be miserable in there?

[Shawnie]

Originally Posted by Tony G.

wow. i had no idea. So would it be cruel if i kept one in my tank? I was kinda hoping to stock it with these:

1 DG
4 Guppies
3 Sailfins ( 1 male, 2 females)
1 balloon molly

and thats it..


would he be miserable in there?

check with your supplier tony to see how they keep theirs..maybe you can even find some local breeders to get their opinions as well.......ive never had them myself, but I do have friends that have them in a freshwater tank and they breed but again, ive never had them ...seems no one in the east does salt for some reason with their mollies/guppies etc.......

[Tony G.]

Originally Posted by Shawnie

check with your supplier tony to see how they keep theirs..maybe you can even find some local breeders to get their opinions as well.......ive never had them myself, but I do have friends that have them in a freshwater tank and they breed but again, ive never had them ...seems no one in the east does salt for some reason with their mollies/guppies etc.......

they are kept in FW. I just checked lol
Im paranoid!

do you think my stock sounds ok?
I want to start breeding the Sailfin's...
i want to get experience with this

[ccb04]

Tony, here's a good read on Molly care: http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com...aquariums.html

Mollies have become my favorite Livebearer ... with Swordtails in 2nd.

I don't use salt ... and keep them with other livebearers. However, the water here is hard, and I add trace elements (calcium, magnesium, etc.) with each weekly water change.

A couple of good products if you decide not to use salt but want to add electrolytes and trace elements to benefit Mollies as well as other fish: Seachem Fresh Trace and Weco Wonder Shells.

While many believe Mollies absolutely need salt ... I've done well with hard, alkaline water and the consistent addition of trace elements. This along with a good diet.

IMO, because Mollies traverse fresh and brackish waters ... they have a unique ability to adapt. That said, I would never keep them in acidic water, etc. Again, while I don't use salt ... I do meet their requirements of hard alkaline water with high mineral content, along with quality nutrition that includes veggie matter.

[Tony G.]

Thanks! i haven´t gotten them yet.
My water is really hard, yet my fish have adaptesd to it, and seem to be thriving, so are they ok with hard water?

EDIT:

I have the erfect water levels. I jsut checked.
My GH is 270 ( it exlains why the gups are thriving)
my KH is 130 ( also)
so i think i wil provide them a good home.

That was a very helpful link, thanks ccb04

[ccb04]

Originally Posted by Tony G.

Thanks! i haven´t gotten them yet.
My water is really hard, yet my fish have adaptesd to it, and seem to be thriving, so are they ok with hard water?

EDIT:

I have the erfect water levels. I jsut checked.
My GH is 270 ( it exlains why the gups are thriving)
my KH is 130 ( also)
so i think i wil provide them a good home.

That was a very helpful link, thanks ccb04

Anytime, Tony.

[ViridiosExotics]

Fab! mollies do VERY well in hard alkaline water, with the addition of aquarium salt (freshwater tonic salt) good job! i love mollie and platys and swords, well all livebearers really LOL.

[harpua2002]

Originally Posted by ccb04

Tony, here's a good read on Molly care: http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com...aquariums.html

Mollies have become my favorite Livebearer ... with Swordtails in 2nd.

I don't use salt ... and keep them with other livebearers. However, the water here is hard, and I add trace elements (calcium, magnesium, etc.) with each weekly water change.

A couple of good products if you decide not to use salt but want to add electrolytes and trace elements to benefit Mollies as well as other fish: Seachem Fresh Trace and Weco Wonder Shells.

While many believe Mollies absolutely need salt ... I've done well with hard, alkaline water and the consistent addition of trace elements. This along with a good diet.

IMO, because Mollies traverse fresh and brackish waters ... they have a unique ability to adapt. That said, I would never keep them in acidic water, etc. Again, while I don't use salt ... I do meet their requirements of hard alkaline water with high mineral content, along with quality nutrition that includes veggie matter.

I agree. Keeping mollies in fresh, brackish, or even full marine (yes, some folks do it) is not cruel, given these fish can adapt to these conditions because of where they are found in the wild.

Originally Posted by ViridiosExotics

Fab! mollies do VERY well in hard alkaline water, with the addition of aquarium salt (freshwater tonic salt) good job! i love mollie and platys and swords, well all livebearers really LOL.

Aquarium salt is not needed, as it does nothing to replicate brackish or marine conditions. Marine salt mix must be used for brackish or marine water.

[Black87XLT]

So, n00b question though it may be, say I go get a 100+ gallon, move every one up a size (cichlids to to the 100+, corys and mollies to go the 40...) and then take a few fry from a spawn, put them back in the 20, and gradually build it up to a marine tank, the mollies will survive (assuming that they don't get sick or something)?

Am I reading this right? Because that would be cool!