Molly Compatability oops

[Wallyfish]

I mistakenly thought that mollies were compatable with my neon tetras and guppies. I read that Zebra Danios were compatible, and assumed that since they are only slightly faster and about the same size as neons that they would be fine. This is not the case apparently. Can someone tell me why they are incompatable? I recently bought 2 cremecicle lyretail molly and they are doing well so far in my 29gal tank with a small school of neons, glofish, as well as 3 fancy guppies. Is it that they will outgrow them and eat them at some point? The mollies are very young at the moment. Does anyone have any experience that would support that they are incompatable or has anyone successfully kept mollies with neon tetra? I once heard of a guy who kept a goldfish with a betta so I guess crazier things have happened. I really would like to keep the lyretail in that tank if at all possible. I can quarantine them in a 10 gal if things get rough.

[crackatinny]

I have neons with balloon mollies, had no problem with them so far and they have been together about 3 months, this is not to say it is advisable, but so far worked for me

[kimmers318]

Where did you find they were incompatible? It might be because mollies I believe actually prefer a lightly brackish tank, whereas the rest are freshwater.

[Severus]

I have never had good luck with mollies. I kept them in a 20 gallon long for awhile and they just didnt survive. I later found out that they are brackish and will thrive in those conditions. I dont think you will have an issue with the mollie trying to eat anybody

[crackatinny]

Only trouble we have had with our balloons 100GW is one getting caught behind an uplift from a UGF.

Sorry but what exactly is brackish, it just sounds unkept, and dirty but I am sure this is not so

[Rue]

Brackish water is the water from estuaries (or mangrove swamps)...where fresh water and salt water meet...so it's salty, but not as salty as the ocean...

My freshwater tank is lightly salted...1 tbsp per 5 gallons...my mollies seem to adjust fine to that and my freshwater fish handle it well too...

My mollies don't bother the neons...or should I say neon at this point?...the rest of the neons have died (over a long time period)...

[Wallyfish]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.] said that they were incompatable. I know that mollies prefer a little salt in the water like most livebearers and they can even adapt to salt water tanks(so I've heard). They will do fine in freshwater as well. My theory is that when mollies are full grown at 5" they don't get along with the 1" tetras who they probably bully around. That might take a while to happen.

[Severus]

I have never seen a 5" molly. I always thought they got around 3"

[Wallyfish]

I thought that they only got to 3" too but then I read at [Only Registered Users Can See Links.] that they can reach 5. Perhaps they grow to 3" over a three month period and then slowly grow to 5 over a 2-3 year period. I really like my mollies and don't want to move them. I never thought I would get mollies but these ones are cool.

[Severus]

They probably are capable of it like you said, it just takes a long time. My Pink Kissing is the same way... he grew real fast to about 5 inches and he has been growing slower now. He is capable of 8" so we will see how that goes.

[jeffs99dime]

i saw some kissing gourami at one of the lfs the other day. they were huge! easily 8 inches maybe 9!

[ivan09193]

The max. size of mollies depends on what species you have. Poecilia sphenops are little guys, maxing out at about 3 inches. On the other hand, Mexican Sailfins (Poecilia velifera) get to six inches plus. Most mollies that you find it pet stores are inbetween the two, like Poecilia latipinna, which gets to about 4-5 inches maximum. But, quite a few of the mollies on the market are hybrids between the three molly species, like those god-awful balloon mollies, so the rules aren't hard and fast.

[*Sarah*]

I have mollies with guppies, neons, and platys, no problems. I realize that the water perimaters aren't PERFECT for the Mollies or Neons, but everyone seems happy. perhaps they've acclimatized.

[ivan09193]

Mollies, in general, shouldn't be kept with species like neon tetras. Mollies, if they are not in saline water conditions, prefer very hard water, whereas neons take soft water.

[cocoa_pleco]

i put mollies with other community fish, and they do fine. They do like salt and hard water though, but if their used to neutral or soft theyre fine