Freshwater Mollies in my Saltwater tank

[Sk8r]

Get some bristleworms and you won't have such a poop problem.

Acclimate the molly at least over 2 hours. And watch them: they jump like bandits.

Mine will eat filamentous, will not touch macro.

 

[benf]

I would like to try them, but i think they will become a meal for my dwarf lionfish or my longnose hawkfish

 

[BankerJohn]

Well, the test has begun. I added 2 dalmation mollies and 2 other unknown mollies this afternoon. I acclimated them using a drip from the display into a bucket over a 4 hour period to slowly adjust them to the change in salinity.

After introducing them, the other fish immediately became VERY curious and protective of their abode. I never knew a Royal Gramma has a HUGE mouth. He is flaring his gills and opening his mouth to establish dominance with the new fish. The largest molly is trying to bully one of the blue chromis and they are banting back & forth. The Skunk Cleaner is in HOG HEAVEN... he is constantly trying to clean the new fish. The peppermint shrimp are out too thinking they have a meal coming their way. One of the mollies took a nip at my ricordia. Chemical warfare ensued and sent the molly freaking out for a good 5 minutes.

More to report later

 

[BankerJohn]

As I typed the previous post, I noticed one of the random fish (not a molly) that was kind of corkscrew swimming. I guess he did not adjust to the salinity. I walked to the front of the display and noticed that the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp had a particular interest in the seemingly stressed fish. Nature took over and instead of cleaning the fish, the cleaner shrimp began to devour the tail and fins. The fish is now food for the tank... the peppermints have begun the attack and I am sure it won't be long before the hermits start tearing into it.

Wow, I LOVE this hobby!

 

[playa0069u]

lol nice how about the hair algae?

 

[Joshjohnson]

Mine are still going strong, all the hair algae is gone

 

[Bono]

I bought 3 from walmart and they haven't touched a thing in almost 3 days. They seem very timid and stay in the top rear of the tank all the time.

Do the people who have had success with them have many fish? I read that they are afraid of most fish and won't venture down to the rocks.

Josh, Do you want to lease with an option to buy yours?

 

[Ah64av8tor]

Bono,
Mine did the same thing for about a week and now eat along side of my saitfin.

I have 1 new baby dalmation swimming around.

 

[Bono]

I know a few people said the mollies ate the hair in like 15 minutes so it's good to know it takes a while.

 

[Joshjohnson]

I have only have two chromis in the tank and a bunch of inverts , but the chromis just ingore the mollies and the mollies ingore the chromis. i gues i just got lucky with mine. if i they spawn and the fry get big enough (with out getting eatin by somebody i'll pass them out for free.

 

[benf]

Well, figured i would try again with the $1 mollies...within 2 mins. the dwarf lion ate 2 of the 4...i guess its back to using tweezers!

 

[BankerJohn]

Of the 4 fish, I am down to one mollie remaining. He (or she) has aptly been named "Chocolate Chip" by my 4 year old daughter which means even if the Hair Algae experiment fails, I am stuck with the fish LOL

So far, it does not appear that Mollie has been feeding on any hair algae. Time will tell. Currently, it is keeping in the upper rear of the tank where there is reduced flow/whirlpool eddies. He only moves when the 6 Line wrasse swims by.

More reports to come....

 

[BankerJohn]

Chocalate Chip (the remaining mollie) is doing well. He is acclimating well to his tank mates and they are seemingly accepting him too.

I see no evidence of a reduction in Hair Algae yet. I will keep posting as this prject progresses.

Banker John

 

[Gimplar]

Yup, i just went to petsmart today and picked up 3 dalmation mollies. They are still acclimating and they've been acclimating since...4 today and now its 11 lol. 30 more minutes and they're going into the tank. Ill post some pics as soon as they get in. I hope my sphex Lionfish doesnt eat them, but he's the same size as the mollies lol.

 

[benf]

Good luck...like i said, it only took 2 mins for my dwarf lion to eat 2 of the mollies....

 

[Joshjohnson]

Update on my Mollies, been over a week since they have been in my tank, all are still alive and not one speck of hair algae in the tank and they have been eating frozen and flake food when i feed the other fish. Still no fry in the tank but the female is getting large so hoplefully soon, but they will probally end up fish food.

 

[benf]

what other fish do u have?

 

[Joshjohnson]

two Green chromis, scooter blenny and a bunch of inverts, not much

 

[benf]

yeah, not much threat to a molly!! Mine didnt have a chance!

 

[Gimplar]

my sphex lion has been a good boy (girl?) kinda looks at them funnny from time to time, just cause they are silver and shiney, but i still have all three and they're really taking care of some green cyano looking algae on the substrate.