Black Mollies are generally a peaceful community fish, but multiple males kept in the same tank can become aggressive, and females which are outnumbered by males will tend to be harassed.

Are black mollies friendly?

Mollies are friendly, peaceful fish that generally get along with their tank mates well. They have been known to act territorial when around food and defending their homes, but as long as they have a large enough tank with suitable tank mates they will be just fine.

How many black mollies should be kept together?

Mollies tend to stick together most of the time, which is why you should keep them in groups of 4 or more. If you are planning to keep more than 4 mollies, make sure you get a 20-gallon tank at least.

How big do black mollies get?

3 to 6 inches Size: 6 to 15 cm (3 to 6 inches). Preferred Water Chemistry: Hard, basic fresh water to brackish or marine. Mollies are euryhaline, meaning they do well in fresh, brackish, or marine systems, but they do not thrive in soft water.

Why do black mollies chase other fish?

The reasons why Molly fish will chase each other and seem aggressive has to do mostly with mating rituals that involve attention-seeking behavior. This is when a male molly chases a female molly or aggressively fights off the other male mollies in the tank.

Do mollies clean the tank?

Mollies are famously undemanding fish that will fit well in the aquariums of beginners or inexperienced aquarists. … Indeed, Mollies can help you keep your aquarium free of algae and relatively clean. They do so by picking and eating the algae that naturally grow on the rocks and plants of your aquarium.

How long do mollies stay pregnant?

Mollies 50-70 days.

What fish can you house with mollies?

Molly fish can live with the following in the same tank:

Do mollies eat their babies?

Cannibalism is normal with mollies and other livebearers like guppies and platys. As fecund as they are, you don’t really need to worry about saving every last one.

How long do black mollies live for?

General Care and Lifespan They do best with a bit of salt added to their water to simulate their preferred environment in the wild. If properly housed and fed black mollies have a lifespan of about three years in captivity.

How do you tell male from female mollies?

Do fish recognize their owner?

Conclusion: After this experimentation, scientists concluded that fish are able to recognize their owners. They can also develop a bond with their owners. Of course, not like other pet animals, but in their own way, they do love their owners, and this is quite amazing.

Are black mollies Hardy?

Aquarists consider the black molly as hardy because of how susceptible they are to diseases. However, they adapt quickly to a wide range of water conditions. You should get these distinct colored species because they would make the ideal tank mates for the other calm fish species in your tank.

How fast do baby black mollies grow?

It will take around one to two months for your fry to grow large enough to be introduced into your standard aquarium. The fry should be larger than the mouths of an adult molly fish. Do not move the molly fry until you are sure they are ready to handle your larger tank.

What is the lifespan of molly fish?

two to five years The molly fish lifespan is two to five years. This freshwater fish is not known to live a long life. Their lifespan actually depends on the environment you provide when keeping them as a pet. The water conditions impact the lifespan of mollies as they are prone to diseases if the water conditions are poor.

Are mollies aggressive?

They are a peaceful bunch most of the time but can show signs of aggression when crowded or surrounded by aggressive tank mates. Therefore, it’s important that their tank is big enough, and that they have suitable tank mates (more on this later). Some people mistake Molly Fish breeding behaviors as signs of aggression.

Can you mix different types of mollies?

Albeit there being several varieties of molly fish, they all can be mated because regardless of the color or fin configuration, they are the same species, and any male will readily fertilize with all females. … So, put simply, different colors and shapes of mollies are still the same fish and will readily breed.

How do mollies mate?

The Basic Mating Behavior of Black Mollies When black mollies mate, the male will transfer milt, the fluid that contains his sperm, into the female’s body using is gonopodium. The gonopodium is a special anal fin that is shaped like a rod rather than a normal fin.

Can mollies live in tap water?

But mollies are a bit of an exception. They really can’t thrive in soft water. If you live in an area with soft water, you will need to add minerals to your water.

Do mollies need a heater?

As Mollies are freshwater fish that are found in tropical climates, they will need a heater. … Mollies are a pretty versatile fish, however, as we previously stated, the best temperature would be between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees celsius.

Can mollies and guppies breed?

Potential cross breeding between guppies and mollies These adult fish are not fertile and will not reproduce. Sadly, most babies from the guppies and mollies will die before, during or shortly after they are born. Both guppies and mollies can carry sperm for a long time after reproducing.

Can Mollies change gender?

Mollies are not able to change gender. The gender of these fish is determined by their genetics so it is impossible for them to change sex.

Do pregnant mollies hide?

A gravid molly will have a change in behavior, usually becoming slower, and tend to hide more than is normal only coming out to feed. Your fish might also become more aggressive to tank mates, particularly those that venture into her hiding spot.

How do you know if a black molly fish is pregnant?

The most apparent and easiest sign to spot in pregnant molly is a swollen belly. You will also notice a blackish spot or line running down her stomach, which are the eyes of the fry. The pregnant molly’s body will also continue to become plumper and rounder as her pregnancy progresses.

What size tank does a molly need?

Most molly fish can live happily in a tank size as small as 10 gallons. That tank size recommendation is suitable enough for up to four mollies, although a larger tank is always appreciated if you have some extra space. For a larger group, you need to bump up the tank size by at least three gallons of volume per fish.

Can mollies live with bettas?

So when it comes to adding tank mates with your betta, mollies are a great choice. … Mollies can grow up to 3 inches which is larger than bettas. Because of this, it’s not recommended to put them in tanks smaller than 20 gallons. Mollies can live up to 5 years but it’s more common for them to only live 1-2 years.

How many mollies Can I put in a 20 gallon tank?

The average molly fish will grow to a size of 3 inches. Keeping three female mollies and one male molly fish together is the best option in a 20-gallon tank. They are livebearers, so keep an eye out for babies on a regular basis.

How many babies do mollies usually have?

Gestation and Birth Female mollies will gestate their young for about 60 days. They can give birth to between 40 and 100 fry. Mollies that are young or are having one of their first few pregnancies will tend to give birth to a smaller rather than larger number of fry.

Can baby mollies live in a bowl?

No, you can’t keep molly fries in a bowl. There isn’t enough filtration and hiding spots for fries. You will not be able to place a heater in a bowl, that is normally made from plastic.

What do I do with my pregnant molly?