Compatibility, Breeding, Feeding - Live Bearers

[superbsite]

I have some questions on the compatibility, breeding and feeding of Live Bearers (Guppies, Mollies, Platys and Swordtails)

Can all of them live together because their all live bearers ?
Mollies as I've read nip fins and get aggressive.
Which kind of mollies are not aggressive to nipping ?

Should the male female ratios be 1:2 minimum for each one of them ?
I know Platys, Guppies and Swordtails suit this ratio but what about mollies ?

Will all of them tolerate salt in the water ?
Some like brackish waters, some alkaline.

What kind of cross breeding can happen between these ?

Which of these live bearers need additional veg food other than flakes and dried freeze worms ?
My Guppies and Swordtails also eat egg yolk


Thanks

[Gisela]

I have Guppies and Swordtails together in my 55 gallon. They love to eat fresh zucchini (which I put in for my plecos) and romain lettuce.

[Northernguy]

They can all live together but its not a great idea.
The mollies are fin nippers.They will breed like crazy.
There will be no cross breeding.Guppies breed with guppies and mollies breed with mollies.
There has been rare instances reported of cross breeding.I don't think it has happened here.
Its not a tank I would have.Way too many fry, unless you have a large hungry cichlid to feed.
Just having guppies in a tank I had to remove at least a hundred a month once things got going.I have a 20gal That I had set up and placed one pregnant female in there.That was 3 months ago.I now way too many fry to count in there.I think it may be tiime to start feeding my oscars live.My lfs never shows any appreciation for free fish.
Salt water is not necessary but is doable.I feed flakes and frozen foods to them.
They do love a banana treat now and then.

[superbsite]

Thanks Northern Guy and Gisela

I like the looks of the black mollies but they are let down now because of their fin nipping attitude.

[rich311k]

A big male molly can be quite boisterous. He is also a gorgeous fish. i have a small group of mollies which I enjoy very much. Be sure to feed your live bearers veggies and green flakes as well as meaty foods. They are omnivores and mollies are actually quite vegetarian.

[gadget228]

I have them all in my 75, mollies, platies, swordtails and guppies alongside 1 female golden gourami, 7 cherry barbs, 6 zebra danios and a couple bristle nose pleco's. I try to maintain a M/F ratio of 1 male to every 2 females. The only aggression that I ever see is a male pursuing a female and the swordtail is the worse about it.

As NG already mentioned the biggest problem is the amount of fry generated, the gourami was taking care of this but their being born faster than she can eat them and they are starting to take over my tank. Think twice if you want a tankful of livebearers. :hmm3grin2orange:

Also all my fish love cucumbers.

[superbsite]

Thanks rich311k for the advice on feeding

Thanks gadget228. Yes I can see the sword tail aggression in my tank too. He actually started checking the 2 females out the moment I floated the bag in the tank and blowing kisses on the bag :)

Now I see why they recommend more females. Hes literally throwing himself on them and following them all around like a dog on your tail.

Do they reproduce fast and easily like this or do the females play hard to get ?

[gadget228]

My current ratio of livebearers males to females is,

Mollies 1 male/2 females.

Swordtails 1 male/2 females.

Guppies 2 males/7 females.

Yet 85% of my fry are swordtails, he is one determined fish... :hmm3grin2orange:

[WYlde Billy]

i always heard hear 3 females to 1 male X 2 = 6 females to 2 males