Black Molly question

[overanalyzer]

OK my daughter has a little 5 gallon tank with 2 black mollies - the eventual goal is for them to have babies ... she is anxious - anyhow - these are in fresh water but we have decided that this will be an eventual salt water tank - what I need to know is the breeding habits of mollies and will two be enough or should I toss a couple of more in there?

 

[snowbear]

You probably already checked - but they are one of each gender, right? If not, you will need another Also, they like plants and a little bit of aquarium salt in their water (I think it's a tablespoon per 10 gallons). It's cool when they have little ones, but usually they eat them unless you put the pregger female in a breeding trap just before she "pops"
Good luck.

 

[bang guy]

Two will do the job as long as they are not both males. If you slowly ramp up the salinity they will handle full strength seawater with no problem.

 

[overanalyzer]

How do I --- a Molly?? Both are pretty small - look almost the same .... yes I am being somewhat lazy!
Snowbear and Bang Guy - thank you!!
~ Jerome

 

[fishkid1000]

My brother had baby mollies in his 20 gallon. They hid in the grave for a long time then once they were big enough they made their way out.
HTH
Chris

 

[overanalyzer]

thanks - but /BUMP/ How do I tell a male from a female??

 

[cmack]

If they are "Black Sailfin Mollies" the male will have the prodominant "Sail Fin" Tail, the female will have more of a normal looking tail.
Good luck, when I had the freshwater setup, My mollies only reproduced a few times, the "Fancy Guppies" We were actually able to Breed....

 

[quazi]

Males have a gonopodium. If you have a daughter, you either have the human equivilent or are well acquainted with it
It is right next to the anal fin, of course!
Good luck with the mollies!