Balloon Molly in saltwater?

[Reef Breeder 2013]

I'm going to put in a 15 gallon tank of macroalgae, and I'm thinking of putting in a couple of Mollies. Now, I love balloon mollies, but I don't know if it's possible to put them in salt water. Is this possible? I don't know if this is of any use to you, but I'm talking about black balloon mollies.

 

[Peace River]

Yes it is possible. Personally, I have mixed feelings. The following R2R thread addresses points on both sides:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/mollies-in-saltwater.1064835/

 

[Reef Breeder 2013]

Yes it is possible. Personally, I have mixed feelings. The following R2R thread addresses points on both sides:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/mollies-in-saltwater.1064835/

Yes, I already read it, and they don't talk specifically about balloons. I've had mollies in saltwater before, but I don't know if balloons would survive.

 

[BigAl07]

Yes, I already read it, and they don't talk specifically about balloons. I've had mollies in saltwater before, but I don't know if balloons would survive.

I have a local breeder who has offered me some Balloon Mollies for this purpose. I hoping to try and acclimate a group as soon as I can get back on my feet after a Total Knee Replacement here.

I'll try and document it and post a new thread or at least update this thread once I'm able to try.

 

[Peace River]

Balloon mollies have a deformity (specifically scoliosis) that has been bred consistently into their line. While it is unlikely they would survive in the wild because of this limitation, they are hybridized from sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) which is an euryhaline species (as is the P. spenops) that I have caught in both fresh and brackish waters.

 

[Reef Breeder 2013]

I have a local breeder who has offered me some Balloon Mollies for this purpose. I hoping to try and acclimate a group as soon as I can get back on my feet after a Total Knee Replacement here.

I'll try and document it and post a new thread or at least update this thread once I'm able to try.

Oh, very good. I'll keep an eye on that.

 

[steve99999]

Balloons are one of the harder ones but can be done.
Try to get the largest ones you can find.
I have tried 4 times with some pandas with no luck
seems like the pandas and balloons are the least hardy
ones.

 

[Reef Breeder 2013]

Balloons are one of the harder ones but can be done.
Try to get the largest ones you can find.
I have tried 4 times with some pandas with no luck
seems like the pandas and balloons are the least hardy
ones.

I think the trick is to look for some that were born in brackish water. It's much easier to adapt them to salt water this way.

 

[Faurek]

Bump. Interested on this even tho I don't really like those deformed fish. I haven't been lucky with shpenops lately, got sailfins yesterday and never seen mollies acclimate so fast with so little apparent stress before. The balloons are supposed to have sailfin blood to my understanding.