Molly Fish
Overview
Mollies are a group of small, lively livebearers with many color and fin variations. They are highly adaptable and are often seen in both freshwater and brackish setups.
Origin: southern United States
Family: Poeciliidae
Physical Characteristics
Habitat Requirements
Care and Feeding
Diet Information: Mollies are voracious eaters that require a diet rich in vegetable matter. Staple: High-quality flake or sinking pellets formulated for livebearers. Supplements: Blanched zucchini, cucumber, or shelled peas. They will also happily graze on algae in the tank. Occasional Treats: Bloodworms or brine shrimp.
Breeding
Breeding Difficulty: Very Easy
Breeding Notes: Mollies are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live fry instead of laying eggs. They are prolific breeders and will readily reproduce in a home aquarium without any special intervention. A single female can give birth to 20-100 or more fry approximately every month. Fry can be a great food source for other fish in a community tank, but if you wish to raise them, they will need a separate tank with plenty of hiding spots (like a breeding box or floating plants) to avoid being eaten.
Compatibility
Peaceful
Compatibility Notes: Mollies are great community fish for brackish setups. They should be kept in groups with a ratio of at least two females per male to prevent the females from being stressed by constant mating attempts. Good Tank Mates: Other peaceful, cool-water brackish species like Bumblebee Gobies, Green Scats (as juveniles), and peaceful types of Gobies.