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Black Molly: Tips For Keeping And Breeding Them
The Black Molly (Poecilia Sphenops) is a popular color variety of Molly that is distinguished by a completely black body. They grow to be about 3" in length and do well in an aquarium that is 20 gal. or larger. Black Mollies are from a species of tropical fish that give birth to live fry called "Live Bearers".
Learn more about Mollies and other freshwater aquarium fish at Bala Shark Bay Aquarium Fish Resource.
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A Healthy Black Molly
Optimal water conditions for a Black Molly is a temperature of about 80 F. pH values between 7.5-8.2 and hardness of about 15-30 dGH. For optimal conditions add 1 tsp of aquarium salt for every gallon of tank water.
With optimal water conditions and a good mix of male and females, Black Mollies will be healthy and live longer in an aquarium.
Tips For Black Molly Breeding
A Black Molly is like other live bearing fish in that they will carry the eggs after spawning and give birth to live fry. Gestation period is typically between 6-8 weeks.To breed a Black Molly there isn't much required of the aquarium owner. A male and female will readily spawn when placed together in a tank that has good water conditions. After the gestation period the female will then give birth to as many as 80 fry depending on the size of the mother. A typical brood is usually closer to 40-50 fry. Molly fry can be fed brine shrimp and pulverized flakes.
One trait of Mollies and other live bearing fish is their tendency to eat the fry right after they are born. It is up to the aquarium owner to separate the fry from the mother to protect them from being eaten. This can be done by using a commercial breeding trap or by providing plenty of plants that will offer hiding places for the fry when they are born.
Follow this link to learn more about Black Mollies.
Protect Your Molly Fry
Because of the nature of Mollies to eat their fry soon after they are born it is important that something is done to protect them from mother after being born. There are a few options available to an aquarium owner to protect the fry.Commercial breeding traps can be purchased at local pet stores. These are plastic containers that float inside the aquarium. They have multiple compartments with a divider that has a small space to allow fry to pass through but not the mother. After the fry have been born the mother can then be removed and the trap can be used to hold the fry till they are big enough to not get eaten.
Special plants can also be bought at local pet stores. These plants are often called baby hides. They are plants that have small enough spaces that the fry can swim into but the mother cannot. Using plants like this is better because it puts less stress on the mother. However there is greater chance that some fry may not make it to the cover provided by the plant.
Popular Types of Mollies
- Black Molly
- Silver Molly
- Dalmatian Molly
- Orange Creamsicle Molly
- Lyretail Molly
- Sailfin Molly
- Balloon Molly
The Black Molly Aquarium
- Fish Tank and Stand
- The most important part is the fish tank itself. The size of the tank will have a very big impact on the amount of Black Mollies that can be kept and how many fry can be raised in the tank before it becomes crowded. The stand needs to be sturdy and able to support the weight of the tank when it is full.
- Hood and Lighting
- The hood provides a cover for the tank and will also hold the lights for the tank. Some hoods have filters built into them.
- Aquarium Heater
- Black Mollies are warm water dwelling fish that prefer temperatures closer to 80 degrees. A heater is necessary to maintain the right temperature for the Mollies to live in. There are many different types and styles of heaters each with their own special benefits.
- Aquarium Filter
- In an enclosed aquarium environment, waste products can build up quickly. Good filtration is a must for any tank that will be the home to Black Mollies. A good filter will remove the toxins from the water and help keep the water conditions optimal for keeping and breeding Black Mollies.
- Home Aquarium Supplies
- Not just supplies. This site gives you tips on buying all the right equipment to set up a fish tank. Be sure to visit this site if you're looking at setting up a black molly aquarium.
Tropical Fish News From Practical Fishkeeping
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The Benefits Of Aquarium Salt
From my personal experience keeping Black Mollies I have to say that after I added salt to the water my fish were generally more healthy, more active and generally happier fish. One thing I read is that salt can actually lower stress, promote health and increase the lifespan of Black Mollies. I have to agree with that statement.
If you have Mollies and have never used salt, you can start by adding 1 tsp for every 5 gal of water. That amount for me has been a good introductory amount. If your Mollies are healthy then there really isn't a need to add all the salt all at once.
So if you keep Black Mollies in your aquarium, add a little aquarium salt. Adding 1 tsp. for every 5 gal. is my minimal recommended amount and will improve the health of the Mollies. Adding 1 tsp. for every gal. is what has been ideal for keeping my Black Mollies happy and healthy. Remember to replace the salt when you do partial water changes.
Hybrid Mollies
There are many different types and colors of Mollies found in the hobby today. The Black Molly is just one of them. Lyre-tail and Dalmatian Mollies are a couple popular ones.Hybrid Mollies are more susceptible to disease and special attention should be taken to keep tank water clean. Using salt is highly recommended to promote good health of hybrid Mollies. It is also highly recommended that the tank is fully cycled before keeping any hybrid Mollies in the tank.
Midnight Molly
When keeping and breeding this variety of Molly, it is a good idea to have a larger aquarium than the 20 gal recommendation for Short Finned Molly. This will ensure that the young males will have plenty of space to grow and develop a full sized dorsal fin.
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Magazines and DVDs on Amazon
In Summary:
- Keep Black Mollies in a tank that is a minimum of 20 gal.
- Keep Black Mollies in shoals of 1 male for every 3-4 females
- Keep tank water warm at about 78-80 degrees
- Add 1 tsp. of aquarium salt for every gallon of water
- Use plants or a breeding trap to protect fry when born
- Hybrid Mollies are more susceptible to disease
- Only Silver Mollies are hardy enough to cycle a tank
Get Answers to You Black Molly Questions
Molly Photos
Black Molly
Female Black Molly
Male Silver Molly
Male Dalmation Molly
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Short Finned Molly on Wikipedia
Poecilia sphenops is a species of fish, of the genus Poecilia, known under the common name Molly. They inhabit the coastal brackish and marine waters of Mexico. The wild-type fish are a dull silvery color, often sprinkled black all over.
This species is one of the ancestors of the black mollies, a number of melanistic breeds which are black all over. It is one of the most well-known aquarium fishes and nearly as easy to keep and prolific as guppies (for optimal health and breeding success, they demand fresh vegetable food like algae). There are several other popular breeds, like the golden molly nicknamed "24 karat", or the balloon molly, which however has a deformed spine and a decreased lifespan due to the associated health problems. Also, breeds with altered caudal fin structures like lyretails exist. The wild form is in fact quite rarely kept, as it has a rather plain silvery coloration suffused with brown and green hues. If given good care with ample sunlight, high water temperatures and fresh vegetables, they will, however, prove charming fish who make up for their somewhat plain coloration with their lively behavior.
The common molly can produce fertile hybrids with many Poecilia species, most importantly the sailfin molly. In the case of black hybrids, they are called midnight molly. These are very popular due to their impressive dorsal fins, but require a bit more attention and have a somewhat decreased lifespan - though certainly not as much as the deformed breeds.
The male black mollies generally tend to be aggressive. Although they are compatible tankmates with fish like the tiger barbs, they will attack them.
Fish News From ScienceDaily
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Please post any comments or questions you have here. All your ideas and suggestions will be taken into consideration. Don't forget to add this lens to your favorites, give a rating and even lensroll it.
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CapeMan
I really like your lens. I've had aquariums on and off since my childhood. Bred all of the livebearers, even had a small dam outside for breeding! Your lens has made me nostalgic, as I don't have an aquarium right now! Wish I did! Posted April 18, 2008 |
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EliteClubs
This lens is great, very informative, thank you. Posted April 17, 2008 |
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eccles1
Great lens!cold water or warm water I need to check this out maybe next time my fish won't die! Posted April 10, 2008 |
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bdkz
A really informative lens. I've given you 5 Stars and a Squid Angel Blessing! Posted March 31, 2008 |
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ArtByLinda
Your lens is very well done. I have Molly's and have learned a lot here. Thank you for sharing your expertise! (5 stars to you and a lensroll) Posted March 28, 2008 |
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dual-shock-3
Thanks for the great information ,really cool lens. Posted March 21, 2008 |
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StephenC
Good fish lens. Enjoyed the visit. Posted March 18, 2008 |
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RyanRE
Nice Lens! I keep and have bred angel fish, so I am feeling you on this one :) I particularly like you hybrid molly photo. That is one good looking fish. Posted February 15, 2008 |
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ollan
I love black mollies. When I was a little boy, I bought a pair of them. They sure do breed quickly! Within a few months, I had thousands of mollies! They seem to thrive well in warm, green water with plenty of algae. Posted February 07, 2008 |
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Dustinius
The difference between Goldfish and Mollies is that Goldfish are cold water fish and Mollies are warm water fish. Posted February 06, 2008 |
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thomasz
Nice lens. Great info. Are mollies like goldfishes? Posted February 06, 2008 |
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Margaret_Schaut
Featuring your page on Squidoo-It-All! Posted January 23, 2008 |
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woohooinwonderland
Very cool lens! I love watching fish in aquariums, but don't like the work involved. That's why I like sites like yours! :-) Posted January 08, 2008 |
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Tandman
Those Midnight Mollies are really cool fish. Great Lens! Posted December 17, 2007 |
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cdreyer03
I had no idea what a black molly even was until your site. Great Lense! Check out my other lenses too. Posted November 15, 2007 |
