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Sail fin Mollies

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RevClyburn

Anyone currently using them for algae control. These used to be chepa fish, but as of late they have went up in price. I think the reason is because reef keeprs are using them for algae controllers. Any opinions on the price increase and anyone currently using them?

edwin
 
panmanmatt

panmanmatt

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
NapoliNewJersey said:
Aren't these a freshwater fish?
Click to expand...

Yup, but they can be acclimated to live in full saltwater. They are great for algae control and a source of food for the reef as they are live bearers. When they breed it is free foods for all.
 
MikeNapoli

MikeNapoli

panmanmatt said:
NapoliNewJersey said:
Aren't these a freshwater fish?
Click to expand...

Yup, but they can be acclimated to live in full saltwater. They are great for algae control and a source of food for the reef as they are live bearers. When they breed it is free foods for all.
Click to expand...

Good to know. How long do they live in salt water?
 
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ReeferNets

i didnt know that they were good for algea control but the live feed thing i heard about...

Lets start a crazy, SPS with Mollies only tank. Or my Fav Hair algea and mollies only tank.
 
panmanmatt

panmanmatt

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I've seen them live for a couple years in saltwater. You can do the same with guppies also.
 
magic

magic

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I was talking to a guy at Ocean Gallery the other night about this. He said that the mollies actually live longer in saltwater.
 
MadReefer

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
I had a pair of orange ones that bred in the tank in about 3 months. Also, have silver ones that bred a few times. I have one baby that has grown up, it's in my sump. They did a great job of algae control and didn't bother any other fish.
 
D

DaveK

Actually mollies are a brakish water fish and do much better in that or full strength SW. They are often recommended for algae control in FW planted aquariums. Like any fish if they don't like the algae, they will not eat it. So if you have tons of red slime or green hair don't expect mollies to control it.

Personally, I like mollies, if you can find quality ones. This is often difficult. I'm parital to the wild strains that includes the green sailfins (P. latipinna) and the orange tail marbles (P. sphenops).

The only question then becomes, do I want to give up valuable fish capacity to keep mollies?

To many people, mollies are a "nothing fish" compared to other SW fish.
 
C

Candi

What a coincidence to see this thread today. I've had 2 mollies in my reef for over a month now (not sure on actual names but one is orange, actually a very pretty fish, and one a silver) anyways I got them because I have a few spots of algae the rest of the clean up crew isn't doing a good job on. After a month I pulled them to my 30g cube (currently fishless besides them) since they also don't want the algae in question and I didn't want the added bioload... not sure if mine are both male or female but so far no babies.

That said I was going to post a video (still will later) of them and offer them free as "rare snail mollies" LOL simply because they act like snails cruising along the glass eating any film that accumulates there or traveling along the bottom grabbing anything on the sand that looks interesting. However when I said I was parting with them both my 3 1/2 yr old and my husband said they like them... now I have to set up a smaller tank just for the mollies.
 
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