Mollies in a reef?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I've seen that mollies are often able to be acclimated to a reef, and I've been thinking it would be really cool to add a school of them to my 180. I'm wondering if there are certain types that do better than others? Which ones are most colorful, and best suited to life in a reef? What's the process for preparing them to reef life?

 

[FLipp]

they're mean! but i've noticed wwc has one in every tank.

 

[3dees]

I thought the whole point of starting a sw tank is for the beautiful fish that can only be kept in salt. with that size tank, it would look better with a bunch of anthias or cardinals.

 

[saltyphish]

I read a post on here a while ago from someone doing the exact same thing. I believe they were using black mollies. They just drip acclimated them for an hour I believe. Someone did chime in and state they had better success just temp acclimate and drop in. I wish I could remember the person posting. I think it was Triggreef but not 100% sure. My memory is not what it once was.

I've seen that mollies are often able to be acclimated to a reef, and I've been thinking it would be really cool to add a school of them to my 180. I'm wondering if there are certain types that do better than others? Which ones are most colorful, and best suited to life in a reef? What's the process for preparing them to reef life?

 

[saltyphish]

Most people add them because of their size and voracious appetite for algae or food for bigger fish which my understanding is not very good nutrition.. Plus it is kind of neat, the concept of keeping a fw fish in a sw tank.

I thought the whole point of starting a sw tank is for the beautiful fish that can only be kept in salt. with that size tank, it would look better with a bunch of anthias or cardinals.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Plus it is kind of neat, the concept of keeping a fw fish in a sw tank.

^^^This :D

 

[butters417]

I keep a few in my refuge, they were always eating algae, but they only lasted about 6 weeks..might try to get a couple more in the near future

 

[eatbreakfast]

The sailfin species are more often naturally found in salty water, but most of the species available are hybrids, so they should be fine. Acclimation doesnt have to be terribly long, as ones found in intertidal zones deal with pretty rapid salinity changes.

 

[fungia_fiend]

Sailfins do the best. The biggest problem they have is with heavy flow.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

The sailfin species are more often naturally found in salty water, but most of the species available are hybrids, so they should be fine. Acclimation doesnt have to be terribly long, as ones found in intertidal zones deal with pretty rapid salinity changes.

Sailfins do the best. The biggest problem they have is with heavy flow.

Thanks guys! So I'm probably good with most of the ones I'd find at the LFS, and maybe a 2-3 hour drip acclimation?

 

[Humblefish]

Sailfins do the best. The biggest problem they have is with heavy flow.

^^This. From a disease standpoint, they are great because they do not have to be QT'd. Any freshwater disease they might be carrying will die off as they are being converted over to saltwater. However, once in full saltwater they are susceptible to saltwater diseases the same as any other fish we keep.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Thanks guys! So I'm probably good with most of the ones I'd find at the LFS, and maybe a 2-3 hour drip acclimation?

That seems a little long to me. I recommend kepping it under an hr, closer to 40min.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I did temp acclimate and drip acclimate with my mollies. The temp acclimate is thriving and the drip acclimated died within 24 hours.

 

[fungia_fiend]

I drip acclimated and they did fine, but I think it's overkill.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I did temp acclimate and drip acclimate with my mollies. The temp acclimate is thriving and the drip acclimated died within 24 hours.

Wow! That's surprising. How long did you drip them?

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

That seems a little long to me. I recommend kepping it under an hr, closer to 40min.

So, just about like any saltwater fish.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Just bought 6 mollies. Gonna try just temp acclimating them

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Wow! That's surprising. How long did you drip them?

I dripped for about an hour to an hour and a half. I think, but if I ever add more I will just temp acclimate.

 

[miamiangler]

Show some photo`s would like to see them .

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I dripped for about an hour to an hour and a half. I think, but if I ever add more I will just temp acclimate.

Thanks! That's what I'm going to try. Got them floating right now.

Show some photo`s would like to see them .

Will do!