Mollies long term

[Indytraveler83]

Ok, so I’ll admit I’m not a fan of the species in general. I also said I’d never put mollies in my reef tank as I’d had terrible luck with them in freshwater.

Well I ended up with a friend who guilted me into taking her mollies and I put them in my f/w planted tank. Two black mollies were being mercilessly bullied, and as a last ditch attempt to save them, I tossed them into my reef tank right at the end of its cycle.

Fast forward a few months and they are thriving in my tank, and so far getting along with everything well. (Aside from one learning a hard lesson about the non-edible nature of a maxi-mini nem)

I had always intended to remove them at some point, but sorta feel bad if I do now. Has anyone kept them long term? Do they tend to pose any compatibility or health problems with other fish, inverts or corals (My system is a peaceful mixed reef tank). They are also both female, so it’s just these two and no more.

I’d searched other threads, but so far don’t see any references to anyone who has kept them in the display long term, only short term experiments or letting them reside in the sump.

 

[Jesterrace]

I had a couple of the black mollies that I purchased as saltwater acclimated from my LFS and they didn't last long and didn't do much in my tank.

 

[Indytraveler83]

I had a couple of the black mollies that I purchased as saltwater acclimated from my LFS and they didn't last long and didn't do much in my tank.

This is the story I see across the forum. Mine were freshwater born and raised, and tossed in with no acclimation (I’ve heard this sometimes has better success). Ten weeks later they have grown and are doing better than they ever did in freshwater. Really curious if anyone else had kept them long at all.

 

[OldManSea]

I have kept mollies in salt water tanks for years. I usually put them in to have a supply of youngsters for small anglers or leaf fish. With the latipinna’s I use , I get 10-20 newborns each month per female. I have to take some to the LFS from time to time as fewer than half “disappear.” Mollies get bad raps in freshwater tanks since the vast majority of mollies live in brackish water so they are never very healthy in soft water.

 

[Indytraveler83]

I have kept mollies in salt water tanks for years. I usually put them in to have a supply of youngsters for small anglers or leaf fish. With the latipinna’s I use , I get 10-20 newborns each month per female. I have to take some to the LFS from time to time as fewer than half “disappear.” Mollies get bad raps in freshwater tanks since the vast majority of mollies live in brackish water so they are never very healthy in soft water.

I have one from the same brood that’s thriving in my freshwater tank and stands up to the angelfish. These two were always sick and beaten up in that tank, but do fine in saltwater with my somewhat jerk percula clowns.

 

[Jesterrace]

This is the story I see across the forum. Mine were freshwater born and raised, and tossed in with no acclimation (I’ve heard this sometimes has better success). Ten weeks later they have grown and are doing better than they ever did in freshwater. Really curious if anyone else had kept them long at all.

I may give that a try as the freshwater ones are dirt cheap.

 

[Indytraveler83]

I may give that a try as the freshwater ones are dirt cheap.

I can only go off of my minimal experience, but my local lfs owner says sometimes his molly shipments come in sick, and he just dumps them in his salt quarantine and they recover quickly. Then he sells them as saltwater mollies.

 

[OldManSea]

I can only go off of my minimal experience, but my local lfs owner says sometimes his molly shipments come in sick, and he just dumps them in his salt quarantine and they recover quickly. Then he sells them as saltwater mollies.

I wouldn’t be surprised. They require no acclimation and immediately look happier. I find their colors o prove markedly within a day

 

[ihavecrabs]

My QT Black Molly lives in my frag system. Main system has too much flow but she does fine and enjoys swimming around with the bristle tooth tang. Going on 9 months maybe?

 

[AdamNC]

I acclimated a Creamsicle Lyretail Male Molly and did well for a day until my female OC Clown saw it. Needless to say I didn’t see it the next day.

 

[Huff747]

Not sure if it counts as long term yet but I’ve had 2 black mollies for nearly 9 months now. Both females so no new babies but both had babies shortly after I got them before I converted them that I had to give away so don’t mind not having more batches to mess with.