Mollies - 20 popular aquarium species of viviparous fish

Mollies (lat. Mollienesia) is an aquarium fish that even those who are far from the hobby know. But not everyone knows that there are actually many different species: black, snowflake, velifera, sphenops, latipina. However, whichever of these species you name, they are all popular and widespread in the aquarium and belong to the same species, although sometimes they look very similar differently. And all because they have many advantages - they are peaceful, very hardy and unpretentious, inexpensive, and they simply reproduce. These are purely American fish, as they live in North and South America. Wild species can be divided into two groups - those with short fins, such as black molly, and those with long fins, such as velifera or marbled molly.

Habitat in nature

It is a freshwater fish from the genus Poecilia, which is part of the family Poeciliidae. These fish are native to the Americas, but their habitats vary greatly. Mainly inhabits coastal areas of North and South America, but are also found where rivers flow into the ocean, in brackish water.

The entire continent can be called their homeland, they are so widespread.

1. Black molly or Sphenops (Poecilia sphenops) lives from Mexico to the northern states of the United States.
2. The latipin moth (Poecilia latipinna) is found along the southeastern coast of the United States and in Mexico.
3. Velifera (Poecilia velifera) or high-finned (sailfin) molly is native to the coastal regions of Yucatan and Mexico.

All of them are distinguished by their wide range, unpretentiousness and omnivorousness, which makes them very common in these areas.

Most species appeared in aquariums back in 1899, and various hybrids since 1920.

Now you can find black molly, snowflake (completely white or yellow), silver, and spotted. And the number of different species continues to grow and gain popularity.

History of appearance

In 1846, the French zoologist Achilem Valencoen first described the mollies sphenops. More than 50 years later, the famous ichthyologist-taxonomist Charles Tate Regan made a description of the velifera and free mollies.

Mollies arrived in Europe only in 1913. And active breeding work begins after 7 years. As a result, many different hybrids appear.

Mollies are rapidly gaining popularity among aquarists. The most popular and recognizable is the black breed, obtained by German breeder Bill Stericke, who took 11 years to breed an absolutely black fish.

Description

The black molly is one of the species artificially bred in 1930; it reaches sizes of 6-10 cm in an aquarium, and up to 12 cm in nature.

Life expectancy is about 3 years, but may be longer.

The black one has a completely black body, a deep velvety hue. Often there are forms with a lyre-shaped tail fin, the black lyre.

Latipina grows up to 10 cm in an aquarium, and up to 20 cm in nature. The body color is silvery-brown, with dark and blue dots. A distinctive feature is the high dorsal fin.

Velifera in general is very similar to Latipina, but now it has received a new and popular look - from it a completely white species has been bred - snowflake.

Possible gender reassignment

On the Internet on aquarium forums there are stories about how mollies change their sex. The female turns into a full-fledged male who is capable of fertilizing females. As they write, this is influenced by the conditions of the fish, for example, the difference in water temperature, and does not depend on age. Although this is rare.

Other lovers of this type of fish explain the appearance of a gonopodium (male genital organ) in the female as a hormonal imbalance. In this case, they are not talking about a full-fledged “sex change,” because the reborn female cannot perform the functions of a male. The changes concern only the appearance of the fish.

Most amateur naturalists and representatives of science explain this not by a change of sex, but by the process of manifestation of the characteristics of female or male individuals or prolonged maturation.

Visually, molly fry are similar to females and do not express obvious sexual differences. An immature male is mistaken for a girl. Time must pass before his male characteristics appear and he becomes ready for procreation. For such fish, a special term “late males” was even introduced.

Difficulty in content

Simple and unpretentious fish that are well suited for keeping by beginning aquarists. This is especially true for the popular and widespread black molly.

You only need to be careful with disk forms or, as they are also called, balloons; due to their curved shape, their life expectancy is less than that of normal fish. The fact is that the shape of the balloon is scoliosis, with all the ensuing consequences.

For beginner aquarists, the best choice is the common black aquarium molly, as it is less demanding, easier to breed and requires smaller aquariums.

To maintain all types, you need a well-planted aquarium that is quite spacious. It is important that their diet contains a lot of plant matter and algae.

Reviews

The peace-loving molly is a species worthy of attention. Its ease of care and friendly disposition make it attractive to aquarists. The external conditions of the selection varieties are similar to natural ones. Due to the unpretentiousness of the specimens, the aquarist can choose molly of any tone. The bright color will be the highlight of any tank.

Would you like to get yourself some molly fish? Share in the comments!

Feeding

What to feed mollies? Omnivorous fish that eat all types of live, frozen or artificial food.

But, they need a very large amount of food with plant fiber, such as algae or vegetables. The fact is that in nature, fish have a lot of algae and various fouling in their diet, this is evidenced by their lips and behavior. You can often see them scraping off fouling from glass and decor in an aquarium. They use their lips to scrape them off the surface.

The easiest way to feed plant foods is flakes with spirulina, or pieces of slightly boiled cucumbers, zucchini, and lettuce.

Animals include bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp. In general, there are no problems with feeding, the main thing to remember is that plant foods are very important for them.

Artificial foods such as flakes and pellets are a good option. Try supplementing them with other foods to provide a wide range of nutrients.

Live and frozen foods are excellent sources of protein. Bloodworms and brine shrimp will be happily eaten, but most other options work well too.

Feed them small meals twice a day. This gives their digestive system the ability to process food. Give them as much as they can eat in two to three minutes.

Mollies diseases: signs, causes, treatment

The sad fact is that Mollies are susceptible to a number of diseases. In most cases, improper care. If you promptly identify the initial signs of inflammatory processes, you can save the life of the fish. Let's take a closer look at the most common of them:

Non-communicable diseases Mollies

1. Hypothermia or strong heating of aquarium water. Too high a temperature leads to premature aging of living organisms. Low temperatures provoke the appearance of diseases and even death. Monitor the temperature with a thermometer, which should be in the aquarium;
2. Oxygen deficiency. If you notice that fish are greedily gasping for air and swimming only on the surface, immediately buy a more powerful compressor. Otherwise, the molly experiences infertility, suffocation, loss of appetite, and soon they die;
3. Chlorine poisoning. An excess of chloride compounds will not benefit Mollies: it is difficult for them to breathe, the color is lighter, restlessness in behavior appears, and there is no reaction. Death comes very quickly. Therefore, regularly monitor chlorine levels;
4. Alkali disease. There is a decrease in activity, timidity in all fish, mucus appears on the gills, and the color becomes lighter. You should monitor the level of alkali in the water and avoid changes;
5. Obesity. Regular overfeeding threatens to kill the fish. Prevention is a combination of different types of feed in small doses and 2 times a day;
6. Gas embolism. Develops when there is an excess of oxygen. The gills of the fish darken and their behavior is extremely restless. Occurs when a large volume of untreated tap water is poured into the aquarium. To improve the condition of Mollies, it is necessary to replace the water with 30% settled water.

Contagious diseases Mollies

1. Hexamitosis. Lumps and pits appear on the head. If the outcome is positive, recovered individuals will have traces and scars. For treatment, you should heat the water to +35° C or add metronidazole to the water;
2. Fin rot. The fish's fins are deformed, the abdomen may be slightly swollen, and there are ulcers. The infected individual is separated from others, the water is treated with a solution of levomethicin;
3. White-skinned. The body color turns completely white, right down to the eyes. It is necessary to disinfect the entire area: transfer the fish to another aquarium and add levomethicin to the water;
4. Mycobacteriosis. A practically incurable disease, the so-called tuberculosis in fish. Infected people lose their vision, their bones come out, and ulcers and other growths may appear on their torso. Treatment will only help in the early stages. Minocycline and copper sulfate must be added;
5. Ulcer. The causative agent can be either a new fish or just purchased food. Mollies have swollen eyes, loss of appetite, and dark spots that form into ulcers. Immediate treatment with potassium permanganate is necessary.

Invasive Molly Diseases

1. Trichodinosis. Young individuals with weak immune systems are susceptible. The fish constantly rub against different surfaces, plaque and mucus appear on the body, and weight decreases too quickly. Treatment is carried out with the addition of table salt and raising the temperature to +31 ° C in a separate aquarium;
2. Glucose. With this disease, only death is possible. Molly needs to be disposed of, the aquarium disinfected and the fish reintroduced;
3. Ichthyobdosis. Mollies fins stick together, gills change color, and mucus appears on the body. Disinfection is carried out using methylene salt and heating water to +35 ° C in another container.

Thus, by following all the recommendations, you can give a second life to all the inhabitants of the aquarium, including Mollies. And they, in turn, will delight for a long time, give peace and tranquility to their owners.

Aquarium maintenance and care

In the wild, mollies habitat can vary greatly. They have adapted to many different conditions, including tolerance to brackish waters and high levels of acidity.

For several fish you need approximately 60 liters, preferably from 100, since you will not only be keeping them. They themselves can grow up to 10 cm, and in very small aquariums they will be cramped.

Each additional fish will need approximately 5 liters to live comfortably. The main reason we preach that larger aquariums are better is because they are easier to care for. Fish can adapt quite easily to a smaller living space, but water quality is a factor that is very unstable in small aquariums.

The more water, the easier it is to keep the aquarium clean. The larger your water container, the more diluted the water will be with fish poop and uneaten food sinking to the bottom of your tank. The smaller the body of water, the easier it becomes polluted.

Water parameters can be very different, as they perfectly adapt to local conditions. But it is recommended: water temperature 23-28C, ph: 7.0-8.0, hardness 20 - 30 dGH. Captive-bred mollies are accustomed to different conditions, so you don't have to worry about each species needing different water.

Note that fish tolerate salted water very well, and many resources even advise adding salt to it specifically.

Yes, this will not make them any worse, but do not forget that they rarely live in an aquarium by themselves, but their neighbors can tolerate increased salinity very, very poorly.

I would only recommend using salt if they are alone in the tank or for quarantine purposes.

As for the design of the aquarium, it is completely up to you. It is recommended that there be a lot of plants in it, as mollies like to scrape off plaque and algae from them.

A layer of sandy substrate is a good idea. Although they won't spend much time on the bottom, fine grains of sand are good for rooting plants.

You can choose your favorite plants, but taller bushes such as Vallisneria provide good cover for these fish.

It would also be desirable to have a filter; an internal one would be sufficient. Be sure to change up to 20% of the water weekly, as they quickly contaminate it.

Care for them like all other fish: feeding and regular water changes, otherwise they are very unpretentious.

Fish diseases

The ailments of the individual, like other viviparous representatives of the water element, are associated with an imbalance in maintenance and feeding. The causes of the disease may include the following:

• deviations of temperature and acidity regimes of water from the normal level;
• periodic overfeeding of individuals;
• colds and infections;
• improper change of water environment;
• improper transportation of peace-loving fish.

The following pathological conditions indicate the disease:

• the appearance of local areas on the body covered with small bubbles and mossy formations;
• the formation of dark marks, light spots, tumor formations on the fins;
• general lethargy, irrational trajectory of movement, sinking to the bottom, refusal to eat;
• visual bulging of the eyes.

Diseases of Mollies
Mollies are most often susceptible to the following types of diseases:

1. Change of color - melanosis, excess pigmentation turns into a tumor.
2. Ichthyophthiriasis, or the so-called fish louse, is a parasitic attack on delicate scales.
3. Invasive diseases.
4. Ingestion of a foreign body. In this case, the molly begins to move extremely irrationally, often falling to the bottom head down.
5. Exophthalmos is fish-like protruding eyes, often leading to loss of vision and death.
6. Gas embolism. It is formed as a result of excess oxygen content in the aquatic environment. This phenomenon occurs when the tank is filled with unsettled tap water. The disease is characterized by restlessness and darkening of the gills. Care and therapy here takes place in the form of an urgent change of the aquatic environment.
7. Melanosis. The body is covered with blots of non-standard color, which later transform into tumors. This pathology cannot be cured. Preventive measures consist of creating comfortable living conditions; this pathology can be solved in this way. Only tracking key indicators will help you avoid these destructive conditions.
8. Cold. If lethargy and apathy appear in the behavior of individuals, they begin to swim near the surface, they experience loss of appetite, then all this indicates a possible cold. The disease attacks when the temperature drops. Care and therapy in this case consists of creating a comfortable temperature regime.
9. Hexamitosis in mollies.

Why do mollies die?

Harmful ammonia, nitrates and nitrites begin to rapidly accumulate in the aquarium environment. All these harmful components have a detrimental effect on the protective properties of the fish’s body. It is extremely difficult to cure her of this condition. If timely measures are not taken, this entails the death of the individual.

If intoxication with harmful substances does occur, the following actions will help:

• Regularly change the cloudy liquid to purified water.
• Carrying out a test for the oxygen content in an aquatic environment, using it you can also find out the content of NH4, NO3, NO2. These actions will help bring the indicators back to normal.
• White spots on the body of an individual will disappear when the temperature in the aquarium increases, adding salt and effective antibiotics, increasing the temperature regime.
• If a specimen has bulging eyes, this can cause an infection. In this case, therapy may be required.

Treatment

The nearest pet store has effective remedies for various ailments. The main task of the aquarist is to accurately determine the symptoms. Many ailments arise due to an imbalance in living conditions:

• water filtration;
• necessary aeration;
• insufficient aquarium volumes.

When an illness is detected, the following remedies are often used:

1. Effective Tetra Contralck against destructive ciliates, flagellated bacteria (ichthyophthiriasis, semolina, the appearance of white spots).
2. Sera bakto Tabs help cope with internal bacterial infections.

Before using a particular medicine, study the description of its properties in detailed instructions.

Prevention

To avoid the development of an unwanted disease, preventive measures are mandatory:

1. Regularly change dirty and stale aquarium fluid.
2. Cleaning the tank.
3. Temperature control.

All these measures will help not only revitalize the aquarium space, but also produce healthy offspring.

Compatibility

First of all, these are completely harmless and peaceful fish. Excellent for general aquariums, compatible with any peaceful and small fish.

They are peaceful most of the time, but may show signs of aggression when the tank is overcrowded or they are surrounded by aggressive neighbors. Therefore, it is important that the aquarium is large enough and that they have suitable neighbors (more on this below).

They should not be kept with predatory and aggressive species. Ideal neighbors would be other viviparous fish: guppies, platies, swordtails. They are also compatible with many dissimilar species: gouramis, angelfish, neons, barbs.

Mollies are active and sociable, so they enjoy swimming together. The pack should be predominantly female, as males are known to harass females.

Reproduction

Mollies are viviparous fish. The process of obtaining offspring is not too complicated, but it requires some attention.

Females are larger than males and reach sexual maturity a little earlier - by 6 months. Males are able to fertilize a clutch at the age of 9 months .

Usually the couple is separated from the main group into a separate aquarium, where mating occurs. At one time, the male fertilizes the entire clutch in the female’s stomach.

The average duration of gestation is about 45 days . The diet of a pregnant female should include vitamin supplements and protein.

After giving birth, the mother must be immediately separated from the fry - they are able to feed on their own.