Mollies in a community tank?

[Schmidty]

On the Molly page it says that they are not compatible with other species, and that some people say they should only be kept with their own kind. There is no explanation. Can anyone tell me why Mollies might not be good in a community tank?
Thanks!
--Schmidty

[swords3711]

males are aggressive toward other males but besides that they are very calm and peaceful toward other fish

[capekate]

I never had any problems with my dalmation mollies, they used to love to swim up and down the tank together and never fought with each other or others. I wonder why that says that

~ kate

[susitna-flower]

I have mollies in two community tanks, and never have any problem. Like with many fish if they are stressed for any reason, they tend to take it out on the fish around them. So keep them in a group of 1 male to 2-3 females, then they should just mind their own Molly business, and not be a bother to other fish.

[RunningWater]

Ive got a super agressive dalmation molly and its a female!!! Just keep an eye on them and make sure they're not killing each other.

[Dino]

Which just goes to show how fish will react under different conditions.

[Tayful]

In my opinion, mollies are great community tank fish - in fact they are some of my favorite fish, period. I love their colors and their shapes. You shouldn't have a problem putting some in a community tank!

[armadillo]

You and me both, Tay! I really love mollies. They're so varied, inquisitive, sociable and trusting. And I love that they give me cute babies all the time.

[swords3711]

I love them too. I am surprised that you guys don't have problems with them. My male seems to have a certain time during the month that he is very aggressive.

[Rbacchiega]

The only reason I could see someone saying Mollies aren't really a community fish is if they were planning on keeping them in brackish water conditions. At which point the salinity might be a little too much for the other species

I used to keep them just fine in my old 20 gallon with other fish though...

[armadillo]

No, I have aggression problems too. I have an extremely dominant female who can get quite vicious, but in general, the fish know to stay out of her way. In another tank, a male is the problem.

Originally Posted by swords3711

I love them too. I am surprised that you guys don't have problems with them. My male seems to have a certain time during the month that he is very aggressive.

[Azahara]

My mollies do fine with other fish. The only fish I can't put them with is my piranha . . . XD

[Richard]

We've had a livebearer tank stocked with Mollies, Platties and Swordtails for the last 2+ years, and have noted varying types of aggression.

Males of each of those species will fight to establish 'alpha-male' supremacy to have first dibs on mating with females.. pregnant females of all three species can become extremely aggressive towards other females and males of their own species.. and then there are the 'exceptions to the rule'.. we're currently monitoring our alpha-male Swordtail, who is behaving aggressively towards our alpha-male Molly, which may suggest that there is an inter-species battle being waged among males to establish who is absolute 'king of the tank'!

Having said all that, in answer to your question, I can safely tell you Mollies are great community fish.. but in observing fish behavior over the last few years, I gotta tell you when it comes to interaction among fish, nothing is written in stone.. there'll be the one or two in every species that can and will break the rules and surprise you.