How Long Should Molly Fish Live

The average molly fish lifespan is around three to five years While they aren’t the longest-living freshwater species out there, there is some wiggle room depending on what species you get The quality of care you provide will also impact their lifespan significantly

How long do mollies last for?

Now you know that mollies can live up to 3 and 5 years if you are putting them in the perfect environment They might live longer in the wild, because they are getting the right food, and the water is perfect for them

Are molly fish hard to keep alive?

Most species are hardy and easy to care for, making them great for beginners They work well in peaceful community aquariums If kept in a healthy environment, a group of mollies will thrive and can live up to 5 years

Can a molly live alone?

Yes, a single Molly Fish can live alone as long as she has all that she needs: clean water, good food, and enough space to swim and play in Please don’t forget though, that she will be happier with tank mates—whether fellow Mollies or other compatible fish

How long can molly fish live without food?

Overview chart for individual fasting tolerances of popular freshwater fish Type of fish: Period it can safely live with no food: Danios up to 14 days Tetras up to 10 days Platies between 10 and 14 days Mollies up to 2 weeks

Do mollies clean the tank?

Mollies are famously undemanding fish that will fit well in the aquariums of beginners or inexperienced aquarists Indeed, Mollies can help you keep your aquarium free of algae and relatively clean They do so by picking and eating the algae that naturally grow on the rocks and plants of your aquarium

How many molly fish should I have?

Ideally, you should have a 10-gallon aquarium for a molly fish Depending on the species, you may add up to four mollies to the tank For Sailfins and other larger mollies, however, you’ll need to arrange a 30-gallon aquarium To live comfortably, each extra molly will require about 3 additional gallons

Do mollies need salt water?

Mollies don’t actually need salt in their water They can just adapt to saltwater/brackish conditions if they have to But, adult mollies that have been reared in nothing but saltwater may need salt added to their tank because their bodies are used to living with high salinity

Can mollies live with bettas?

If you plan on having mollies in your tank you should remember that they can grow up to an inch bigger than your betta They need to live with other mollies or they will become stressed So a 20 gallon tank is the best option to give your betta and mollies plenty of room

Can molly fish live in a bowl?

Keeping a single molly in an unequipped fish bowl is a feasible practice, but only under ideal circumstances Short-finned mollies (Poecilia sphenops), such as the black molly, are a good single molly choice Since mollies are tropical fish, they require warm temperatures, 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit to survive

Do mollies need friends?

Mollies are friendly, peaceful fish that generally get along with their tank mates well They have been known to act territorial when around food and defending their homes, but as long as they have a large enough tank with suitable tank mates they will be just fine

How long can mollies live out of water?

They can suffocate and die quickly without water (following three to four minutes of no gill movement), so it’s important that you don’t take them out unless the new water is ready for their transfer

Do molly fish need light?

Mollies do not require light directly For a fish-only aquarium featuring mollies, 1 watt of lighting power per gallon of aquarium volume is usually plenty to see your fish As tropical fish, you should give them a photoperiod — the amount of time the lights are on per day — of 8 to 12 hours

What is the best food for molly fish?

Their favorite frozen foods are bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp They will also greedily accept any live foods that you can find to feed to them, with live blackworms, bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp being special favorites

Do mollies eat their babies?

Cannibalism is normal with mollies and other livebearers like guppies and platys As fecund as they are, you don’t really need to worry about saving every last one

Can mollies live with guppies?

Yes, guppies and mollies can live together, and they actually work well together However, if the right requirements aren’t met, then some aggression may occur (from the mollies) And there is always a slight risk that mollies will nip fish that have long fins such as guppies

Do mollies need a heater?

As Mollies are freshwater fish that are found in tropical climates, they will need a heater Mollies are a pretty versatile fish, however, as we previously stated, the best temperature would be between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees celsius

Will mollies eat snails?

Most fish do not eat the snails’ shells Larger fish may though The molly may pick at the snail to see what it is and if it is edible but, unless the snail is very very small, I can see it eating the snail

How do I keep my molly fish happy?

Sandy substrate is recommended just so you can keep vegetation in your tank To keep them happy, give these little fish with big personalities with things to do like tall plants to hide between Satisfy their natural curiosity with artificial caves and rocks to explore

How often do mollies mate?

The gestation period of a molly fish is around 60 days Female mollies can store sperm for months and may fertilize eggs as often as every 30 days, even when no male is present in the tank