Rainbowfish or Gourami for Molly fry

I have Dalmation Mollies, one of which is currently pregnant; she has been moved to a breeder tank, because I DO want to keep the babies. However, I don't want to keep ALL of the fry, so I am looking at fish to add that will keep the population under control.

I've already got:

• A. Cacatuoides (Cuckoo Cichlids), which rules me out having any more Chichlids unfortunately (I was hoping to get a couple more Cichlids, but even adding more female Cuckoos seems like a bad idea).
• Angel fish who is SUPER placid
• Mollies (obviously) - including them because I'm aware they will eat their own fry.

I was thinking of either adding some Dwarf Gourami (unsure if they can be kept in a shoal?), or some Praecox Rainbowfish (if they're anything like my Wapogas in my main tank, they'll eat anything that moves).

I'm avoiding Bettas as I already have my sorority in my main tank, and a Male in my 25 Litre

Is there any other type of fish I'm overlooking that would be good for eating Molly fry? The tank is planted so it would need to be a hunter

If not, does anybody have any thoughts on whether the Gourami or Rainbowfish would be better at hunting them down?

 

Tiger barbs do a number on molly fry. I have even seen them suck the fry through the netting on breeder nets

 

Out of rainbows and gourami I would say rainbows would be better predators for fry. Faster fish anyway.

What about somthing like skirt tetras? Sure I've heard they are very effective.

 

Tiger barbs do a number on molly fry. I have even seen them suck the fry through the netting on breeder nets

Tiger barbs look amazing, and I want them, but I thought they couldn't be housed with an Angel fish because they are fin nippers?

But looking at this (Fish Compatibility Charts - Freshwater, Marine Charts) fish compatibility chart, it says Angels and Barbs are fine.....

But this (Angelfish and Tiger Barbs - Can You Keep Them in Same Aquarium?) article states "Fish that are not compatible with angelfish are fin nippers like tiger barbs, goldfish, bettas and any other fish angelfish can mistake for food or that are aggressive." and "Although I like them both all right, I would not recommend that you keep them in the same aquarium. They’re just simply not a good match."

Out of rainbows and gourami I would say rainbows would be better predators for fry. Faster fish anyway.

Yeah that's what I was thinking, I just don't have any experience with Praecox and I'm not sure I'd want to put Wapogas in a 130 Litre tank.

What about somthing like skirt tetras? Sure I've heard they are very effective.

Similarly to Tiger Barbs, aren't Skirt Tetras fin nippers and thus wouldn't get along with my angel?


Edit: Wouldratherwatchaquarium / BigManAquatics - thanks for replying

 

If you got angelfish, why you need a fish for fry control? Lol

I wouldn't do the tiger barbs with angels either...but i would put them with a lot of other fish.

 

If you got angelfish, why you need a fish for fry control? Lol

He's super placid. He's a rescue, and was beaten up for most of his life so doesn't have much kick in him.

I wouldn't do the tiger barbs with angels either...but i would put them with a lot of other fish.

Unfortunately, I can't move the angel out so tiger barbs are a no

 

Oh missed the stocking part.

Tiger barbs and skirt tetras are a risk of fin nipping an angel. But the angel and your dwarf cichlid should hunt down the fry too?

There are peaceful tetras or rasboras that could work but one's on the smaller side might then be at risk of being eaten themselves. Lemon tetras?

 

Tiger barbs and skirt tetras are a risk of fin nipping an angel. But the angel and your dwarf cichlid should hunt down the fry too?

I don't have any fry in the tank at the moment, but I am doubting the Angel will do much of anything to be honest.

I mentioned it in my last comment, but he's super placid - he's a rescue, and was beaten up for most of his life so doesn't have much kick in him.

Hopefully the Cichlids will hunt then, but I didn't want to rely on just those, to be honest. I'm pretty understocked so thought I'd get something else to help out haha.

There are peaceful tetras or rasboras that could work but one's on the smaller side might then be at risk of being eaten themselves. Lemon tetras?

Are Tetras better for this task over rainbows? I don't have tetras in any of my tanks, because I thought they could all be a bit fin nippy and I have Bettas/Angels. My Wapogas and Rasboroas, however, eat anything and everything haha.

 

I honestly don't know if rainbows or tetras or rasboras would be best for fry control.

I think any fast mid or top swimming fish would work.

 

I honestly don't know if rainbows or tetras or rasboras would be best for fry control.

Ah ok, well thank you for all your responses regardless

I think any fast mid or top swimming fish would work.

Do you have any idea how fast the Praecox Rainbows are? The Wapogas are very fast.

 

Rainbowfish might work well enough. They will eat some of the fry but if there’s anywhere for them to hide a bit some will survive until they are too big for the fish to take an interest in. If it hits the water surface or swims in the open they will go after it but I haven’t found Rainbowfish to be very persistent hunters. Cherry shrimp were exploding in my Rainbowfish tank until I added some gudgeons. A good upper level fry hunter would be the striped panchax. The gold variety is often available in shops.

 

Rainbowfish might work well enough. They will eat some of the fry but if there’s anywhere for them to hide a bit some will survive until they are too big for the fish to take an interest in.

Ah, there’s quite a few caves and it’s planted including floating plants so Rainbows may not be the best choice then!

Cherry shrimp were exploding in my Rainbowfish tank until I added some gudgeons.

Weirdly I have the opposite problem haha. I added ~14 cherry shrimp in the hopes they’d breed like crazy, but they’ve all disappeared; presumably my Bettas had a nice expensive meal haha.

A good upper level fry hunter would be the striped panchax. The gold variety is often available in shops.

Oh weirdly I had just started looking at the Golden Wonder Killifish, then looked up “Striped Panchax” and they’re the same thing haha.

As I understand, I can keep a pair of these together? Should it be one male and one female?

Thanks GlennO

 

As I understand, I can keep a pair of these together? Should it be one male and one female?

Thanks GlennO

I haven't kept them but I think they are normally kept in pairs or small groups. Multiple males might require additional space, what's the tank size?

 

I haven't kept them but I think they are normally kept in pairs or small groups. Multiple males might require additional space, what's the tank size?

Ah ok. The tank size is 130 Litres.

For a single they need a minimum of 90 Litres, and I believe they don’t HAVE to be kept in a shoal, but can be kept in a group of max four/five. My tank probably isn’t big enough for that many so was thinking 2 or 3.

I just need to look into whether my tank is suitable as it’s open top with a jump guard, and these fish like to jump haha.

 

Slight change of circumstances.... I have had to move my Angelfish out of this tank, as it was being bullied by the Mollies (Is this Molly attacking or playing with my Angelfish? | Angelfish Forum | 510534).

So I'm re-looking at Tiger Barbs....

Tiger barbs do a number on molly fry. I have even seen them suck the fry through the netting on breeder nets

Can they live with Dwarf Cichlids (Cockatoos), Cory Cats, Zebra Loaches, a Pleco and Mollies?

I did look it up but there's some compatibility charts that say yes, and others that say no.

 

I think tiger barbs will work with those fish. My black Ruby barbs are very similar to tigers and I have them with rainbows, tetras, krib, corys and plecs.

Tigers are going to be fast and feisty enough to not get into trouble with tank mates. Fin nipping could be an issue from the tigers so keep an eye. My barbs only really seem to bother each other. A large group of 8 or so should ensure they only focus on their own kind.

 

I think tiger barbs will work with those fish. My black Ruby barbs are very similar to tigers and I have them with rainbows, tetras, krib, corys and plecs.

Excellent, ok. Thanks!

Fin nipping could be an issue from the tigers so keep an eye.

What would you worry about them fin nipping? The dwarf cichlids or mollies?

My barbs only really seem to bother each other. A large group of 8 or so should ensure they only focus on their own kind.

Would 8 be ok in a 130 lite tank?

 

I would say the mollies are most at risk as they are going to be sharing the same level in the tank most often. Mollies are pretty hardy and robust though.

I was worried my barbs would nip my corys but they are ignored. They don't interact with my rainbows or much smaller tetras. If they mess with a dwarf cichlid it will chase them off I'd of thought. My krib is not scared of anything anyway.

Hmm 8 should be OK in a 30 gallon. Kept 9 BRB in a 24gallon no problems.

 

I would say the mollies are most at risk as they are going to be sharing the same level in the tank most often. Mollies are pretty hardy and robust though.

Ah, right. OK. Yeah, that makes sense!

I was worried my barbs would nip my corys but they are ignored.

I was worried about the same, as my Corys seem incredibly sensitive but from searching it up they seem to occupy different parts of the tank and the Corys should be left alone. Especially if I get enough TBs.

They don't interact with my rainbows or much smaller tetras

That's good to know!

If they mess with a dwarf cichlid it will chase them off I'd of thought. My krib is not scared of anything anyway.

Haha yeah, that's what I was hoping. The Mollies have swam up to them a couple times and then swam straight off.

Hmm 8 should be OK in a 30 gallon. Kept 9 BRB in a 24gallon no problems.

Excellent, thanks! Appreciate all the help!

I am thinking of getting the Tigers over the Golden Wonder Killifish, as I'm concerned the GWK would find a way to jump, and TB's sound better for controlling the Molly population.

 

Slight change of circumstances.... I have had to move my Angelfish out of this tank, as it was being bullied by the Mollies (Is this Molly attacking or playing with my Angelfish? | Angelfish Forum | 510534).

So I'm re-looking at Tiger Barbs....



Can they live with Dwarf Cichlids (Cockatoos), Cory Cats, Zebra Loaches, a Pleco and Mollies?

I did look it up but there's some compatibility charts that say yes, and others that say no.

I kept them with mollies one, actually had more issues with the mollies going after the barbs than the other way around! The bigger the school of tiger barbs, the less they go after other fish, generally. Some fish, like angels, just prove too irresistible targets though.

 

I kept them with mollies one, actually had more issues with the mollies going after the barbs than the other way around!

Oh no! I don't want to add anything that's going to get bullied, would you not recommend keeping Mollies with Tigers then?

The bigger the school of tiger barbs, the less they go after other fish, generally.

Ah right, ok! So definitely worth getting 8!

Some fish, like angels, just prove too irresistible targets though.

Definitely keep them away from my Angel and Bettas then haha

 

UPDATE

I decided to take the plunge, so went out and bought 8 Tiger Barbs yesterday; with a back-up plan of taking them back if it didn't work out for any reason (made sure this was agreed before purchasing).

I don't understand what has happened, but my tank has come alive.... The mollies are swimming with the Tiger Barbs, the Zebra Loaches have come out of hiding, the Cory Cats seem to be shoaling with the Mollies and Tiger Barbs (!?!), even the Cockatoos are swimming in-amongst them all....

 

UPDATE

I decided to take the plunge, so went out and bought 8 Tiger Barbs yesterday; with a back-up plan of taking them back if it didn't work out for any reason (made sure this was agreed before purchasing).

I don't understand what has happened, but my tank has come alive.... The mollies are swimming with the Tiger Barbs, the Zebra Loaches have come out of hiding, the Cory Cats seem to be shoaling with the Mollies and Tiger Barbs (!?!), even the Cockatoos are swimming in-amongst them all....

I’m curious how things are going with your tiger barbs and nice Angel? My dad told me a story 25 years ago about a TB Whipping his around in circles…hoping yours is safe and well after a tough beginning.

 

I’m curious how things are going with your tiger barbs and nice Angel? My dad told me a story 25 years ago about a TB Whipping his around in circles…hoping yours is safe and well after a tough beginning.

Ah, I think you might have misunderstood. I didn’t have the tigers with the Angel.

 

Ah, I think you might have misunderstood. I didn’t have the tigers with the Angel.

Oh…oops! Thanks for replying. Good call