Anyone keeping sailfin mollies in saltwater

  • Get the NEW AquariaCentral iOS app --> http://itunes.apple.com/app/id1227181058 // Android version will be out soon!
Nolapete

Nolapete

Monster Tank Builder
May 29, 2007
5,274
1
0
New Orleans, LA
I used to have wild sailfin mollies in saltwater tanks all the time. They were good for cycling tanks and going from local freshwater to saltwater knocked out any parasites. Actually, I don't remember ever having a problem with disease ever with them.

I think I'm going to set up a saltwater tank with just them in it. I've always loved watching the males display to the females with their iridescent sails. They colored up very nice in saltwater as well.

Anyone else keeping them or any other mollies in saltwater?
 
5xevy

5xevy

Member #62,749
Jan 3, 2007
1,785
0
0
Upstate, NY
Interesting that I stumbled upon this thread as I was going to start a thread of my own. I have 7 dalmation mollies in a full SW QT set-up. They're about 8 weeks old now and are doing great. I'll be posting pictures soon.

Edit- I started this thread few months ago and received some great advice and suggestions...

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95547&highlight=mollies
 
Nolapete

Nolapete

Monster Tank Builder
May 29, 2007
5,274
1
0
New Orleans, LA
Cool. I have done it many times.

BTW, you don't have to acclimate them slowly. A few hours is all that is required. They have the ability to move between changing waters of differing salinity. One of the few, if only, fish that can.

I just put them in a 5 gallon bucket in 1 gallon of water with a slow drip from the saltwater tank I want to put them in. It takes several hours to fill up and by the time it's full they are happily swimming around just like they were with freshwater. A sponge filter, airstone, or small powerhead is a good idea.
 
5xevy

5xevy

Member #62,749
Jan 3, 2007
1,785
0
0
Upstate, NY
Nolapete said:
BTW, you don't have to acclimate them slowly. A few hours is all that is required. They have the ability to move between changing waters of differing salinity. One of the few, if only, fish that can.
Click to expand...
I didn't acclimate them slowly actually. These were my first mollies ever and I don't know if the adults were weak or what but the current was too strong and I had to unplug one of my filters. That didn't help much because they were sticking to the Penguin and Aquaclear intakes which is where they eventually met their demise. It was a shame but somehow the fry made it.

It's a long story but I'll be posting my thread up within a few days. Are you planning on adding some sailfins soon?

nickmcmechan said:
not all mollies livein salt/ brackish water in the wild
Click to expand...
Exactly. The first quote above pretty much summed that up. :)
 
Nolapete

Nolapete

Monster Tank Builder
May 29, 2007
5,274
1
0
New Orleans, LA
The post is about sailfin mollies which do not all live in saltwater in the wild, but can. They are euryhaline species. Poecilia sp. falls into this category. All Poecilia sp. have this ability.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euryhaline

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/SailfinMolly/SailfinMolly.html

The sailfin molly is a tolerant species. By exploiting the thin film of oxygen rich surface water with their upturned mouths, sailfin mollies are able to survive oxygen depleted habitats. A euryhaline species, the sailfin molly may be found in a variety of saline environments and will breed in brackish waters.
Click to expand...
 
RONCGIZMO

RONCGIZMO

AC Members
May 16, 2007
71
0
0
60
I had a leirtail but the thing made a mess all the time...(too much waste)
it also got very nasty even going after damsels, so I gave him to a LFS to get him out of my tank.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
zoomed.com
hikariusa.com
aqaimports.com
Store
Top Bottom