I need a suggestion

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Nyquil Junkie

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2009
66
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USA
In another thread I posted a reply about mollies as feeders.

Ok I'm getting over run with black mollies, and I have a nice planted 20 gal high glass tank all cycled up good, right now its holding 2 massive fantail goldfish who are going to an outdoor garden pond in the spring. (the pond already has some happy goldfish in it)

So this extra tank will be empty.

Is there a SMALL fish that will eat the endless broods of molly fry breeding in my community tank?

Something that will stay comfortable in a 20 gal tank but will enjoy eating these mollies... newborn and grown out ones about 1/2 long.

What do you suggest I look for?

The tank is in the living room so I'd kinda like something with personality and color.

and I dont want a turtle.
 
You can't keep a turtle in a 20 anyway.

I've got a Mogurnda adspersa in my 55 picking off excess guppies. She follows me everywhere begging for even more food to fill her giant belly. And she is beautiful, like a killifish.

I'd recommend any medium-sized true freshwater gudgeon or goby. Mogurnda mogurnda is more common, just don't accidentally buy a jade goby. They get more massive than oscars. Come to think of it, Knight gobies are pretty common. Not sure how piscivorous they are, though.

You could get a leaf fish. They are serious piscivores and I believe they all stay under six inches. They tend to hide in the plants, however.

Several medium-sized cichlids would work well, too. I would totally get a firemouth cichlid. One by itself would be a good fit. And they are so interactive and brightly colored! Might mess with plants, though.

A trio or pair of angelfish would probably be a perfect fit in there, and they can eat fish on a somewhat regular basis. Yeah, I vote angelfish. Pick the wild-colored, they are way, way, way more hardy on the average. The mutants are pretty, but finicky.
 
Why don't you feed the fry to your goldfish? They will anything that fits in their mouth including their young.
 
yeah I tried that....
They ignore the fry. I even stopped feeding the pigs for a few days, and no bites.

What happened after a few days is the fry began to nibble at the goldfish's tails.

:screwy:
 
what about trying to sell them to your lfs in exchange for fish food or other goods?
or putting them up for sale or free to good home.
 
sticklebacks are great!
i had em when i was in canada.
really cool...

you could try butis butis,nandus nandus and the other leaves,pikeheads,pike livebearers,charax,headstanders,SB albino senegals etc.
but im not sure what you mean by showy...
many of these arent very colorful and dont swim around much....
 
Nyquil Junkie;2870076; said:
yeah I tried that....
They ignore the fry. I even stopped feeding the pigs for a few days, and no bites.

What happened after a few days is the fry began to nibble at the goldfish's tails.

:screwy:
Click to expand...

That is so funny, being bullied by mollies. Too bad, my goldfish eat anything that fits in their mouth. Hope you find a fish that suites your needs.
 
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