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can Mollies be kept in cool water?

3K views 10 replies 4 participants last post by  SweetPoison 
#1 ·
I guess it depends on the species, but according to quit a few sources including aqua advisor, the temp range for mollies(Poecilia sphenops) is 64.4 F - 82.2F and for sailfin molly( Poecilia latipinna) the temp range is given as 68 F- 82.4. other sources say no lower then 75 F.
Would the lower temps be more directed towards these two species in there natural form and colour?

Also the whole Salt thing(yes I know it is a long and over done debate:lol:) seems too still linger in my head. In a older post I asked this question and the main reply was no they don't need salt, however in the fish profiles here it says that sailfin molly( Poecilia latipinna) should have some salt added to it's water. so which is it?
thanks for all your input:-D
 
#3 ·
Generally speaking Domesticated Mollies are more adaptable to many water formats however like most livebearers do benefit from Harder water, and Salt. Domestics tend to be adaptable to more water parametres but I would not suggest it.

I prefer to keep livebearers in hard water like their wild forms but some even keep them in other water formats.

Salt can be a disease preventative in a lot of cases.

When adding Salt or any other minerals to water make sure of your water supply for chemical analsys


References:- http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=4680
Poecilia sphenops - The Free Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Encyclopedia Anyone Can Edit - The Aquarium Wiki
Sailfin molly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=3226
 
#4 ·
good stuff, one other question then, Thanks to Jackiebabie,I have recived a 45 gallon tank. and I relly wnat to keep mollies. I am looking at either a fresh(maybe with a small amount of salt) or a brackish set up. If I chose a brackish setup what would your suggetsions be for tank mates? And if I chose a fresh water setup, could I keep angels, Or barbs, Or gouramis, and hardier tetras with them with a ratio 0f t table spoon of salt for every 10 - 20 gallons of water?
 
#6 · (Edited)
good stuff, one other question then, Thanks to Jackiebabie,I have recived a 45 gallon tank. and I relly wnat to keep mollies. I am looking at either a fresh(maybe with a small amount of salt) or a brackish set up. If I chose a brackish setup what would your suggetsions be for tank mates? And if I chose a fresh water setup, could I keep angels, Or barbs, Or gouramis, and hardier tetras with them with a ratio 0f t table spoon of salt for every 10 - 20 gallons of water?
Without the chemical analysis of water I really do not like suggesting the use of amount of Salt as long as it is in the parameters of the species then chemically you would be in the right frame for Mollies species however Tetras, Gouramis, Angels and Barbs do have other water parameters to consider. This you would have to be careful with.

If your water is hard for Mollies then the suggestion would be to keep species in regards to that water condition. If it is more of the fresh water set-up smaller Australian Rainbow fish would be great tank mates.

For Brackish side you may want to look up some of the water parametres of some of the goby species
 
#7 ·
ok, thanks, I have well water and it is very hard alkiline. some , of the pet stores near us have been able to adjust the more hardier soft water species to hard water. How ever you are right that it is best to keep fish(as well as any animal) to as close as there natural conditions as possible. I would love to have a dragon goby, but apparently my tank is not long enough(only 36"), but my 30 gallon long at 48' would suit it:lol:.
so far the best options for my water are most live bearers, cave tetra's, rainbows, and gobies. Cory cats, pleco's, dainos, bettas, and gold fish do really well here too.
 
#8 ·
ok, thanks, I have well water and it is very hard alkiline. some , of the pet stores near us have been able to adjust the more hardier soft water species to hard water. How ever you are right that it is best to keep fish(as well as any animal) to as close as there natural conditions as possible. I would love to have a dragon goby, but apparently my tank is not long enough(only 36"), but my 30 gallon long at 48' would suit it:lol:.
so far the best options for my water are most live bearers, cave tetra's, rainbows, and gobies. Cory cats, pleco's, dainos, bettas, and gold fish do really well here too.
Is there a way of getting your well water tested for chemical analysis.

I agree mostly with the choices that you have looked up in regards to tank mates, A live bearer that would go along really well with the mollies without "hybridization* would be the KOI swordtail which would add a lot of color to your tank if you want another livebearer in the tank.
 
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