Questions about mollies and tetras.

in my experience, mollies aren't schoolers. They do appreciate others of their own kind, but don't school as in swimming in formation and in response to threats. Mollies can get quite large (I've seen figures of 4-5 inches, but my max were 3 inches). So I think probably 25-30 gal minimum, especially if you want a bunch of them. I'm not totally sure, though, so someone please confirm or deny this.

Tetras ARE schooling fish and definitely need more than 1 of them. Bare minimum is 3, but I'd say at least 5 is preferable. If tetras don't get enough of a school, they are prone to behavioral issues such as aggression. I'd think 20 gal max for a respectable school of black phantoms. Again, not totally sure, though. But I'm pretty sure 10 gals is too small for a school of medium-sized tetras.

Both species are omnivores and will eat pretty much anything. Mollies will also pick at algae, but I just give them spirulina flakes and they even munch on algae wafers. Tetras probably won't pick at things on the bottom the way my piggy mollies and platies do But they would also enjoy spirulina flakes. My guys will eat almost anything that hit the water, live or otherwise. Including flakes, pellets, frozen anything, fresh veggies, cut up peas. I would recommend variety for those guys because it ensures complete nutrition Plus they enjoy it so much, why not?

I hear ya! My personal min tank size for one molly would be 15 gal, but solitary mollies don't tend to do too well, in my experience.

For a 10 gallon you could have a school of neons, glolites or cardinals. What size tank do you have?

PinkCow said:

Hi! I have recently become interested in some very cute little black-and-white spotted mollies (I don't know what specific type they are), as well as some black phantom tetras, and I was wondering what I would need to do if I were to get some of either of them.

First of all, are they schooling fish? They both seem to be.
Secondly, I don't have a lot of space. What is the minimum tank size and school size for each of them, separately?
Third, what do they eat? Does it have to be live food?

I am not looking to get BOTH types of fish, just one--but I wanted to research both before I made any choices, due to my space limitations.

I really wanted a goldfish, but I don't think I could find room for one. Le sigh.

(Cross-posted.)

Click to expand...

the kind of molly is a dalmation molly,one of my fav fish is my juvie dalmation molly,she has so much personality.

There are a couple varieties of black and white speckled mollies out there. I have a pair that were sold under the name "marble mollies", but I have seen some that look more or less the same being sold as "dalmation mollies". The dalmations are sometimes less uniform in their speckling (as in they have larger patches of just black or just white than the marbles) in my experience. My two marbles have topped out at about 2.5 inches while I have seen some labeled as dalmations get much bigger.

I don't own a large group, but from observing them in pet stores, they are not schoolers at all. They sometimes seem to stick together when they are picking at the gravel looking for more food, but not even close to the way cories can do this.

I have 4 dalmations in my 55 gallon and they are already pushing 2.5 -3 inches and maybe not done growing yet. Even if two would work in a 10 gallon, if you have a male and female, you will have lots of babies and overwhelm your tank. Most sites I have seen recommend to have at least 3. Small tetras would work fine in a 10 gallon. I have 9 glolites (still not an inch yet) and 2 ADF's in my 10 gallon right now, but they will be moving to a 29 gallon once we move cross county to Phoenix (already working out the logistics of moving husband, two children, a 55 and 10 gallon and many fish across county - JOY!!!)
Neons, glolites, lemons, head and tail lights, Pristellas and maybe Black Phantoms are all nice small tetra's. You will need to stay away from the larger tetras such as Diamonds, Skirts, Buenos Aires, and others as they get too big.