Should I Breed Mollies?

[divemaster99]

I have been debating what to do with my 3o gallon tall tank for a few months before I decide to add any more or take out any fish. A few people suggested to me to breed mollies since they are one of my favorite community fish and they are a great start into the breeding field. The fish that are currently in my 30 tall include:\
1 Koi Angelfish 3"
1 Blue Gourami 2.5"
3 Penguin Tetras 1.25"
1 Black Phantom Tetra (Rescue and does fine with the other tetras) 1.25"
2 Bronze Corydoras 1.5"
1 Asian Bumblebee Catfish 2.75"
2 Male Silver Sailfin Mollies (of course) 2.75"

I think this may be slightly overstocked and am working on getting the number down (so hard for me to part with fish I've had for so long).
I would LOVE to start breeding especially with a fish that you can breed hardly trying. I have a breeder net to put the fry in for whenever they are born.
Before I decide on going through with this I have a few questions:

1) I am not getting any more males but how many females in proportion to the 2 males I have should I get? 4?
2) Can I crossbreed types of mollies (ex. silver sailfin male X Gold Dust Female, etc.)?
3) What do I feed and how often should fry be fed?
4) What level should nitrates be kept under to ensure healthy fry (under 10 I assume)
4.5) How often should I do water changes while fry are present
5) How much if any profit can be made off this (not in it for the money, I'll give them away if necessary but just wondering)
6) All you Molly breeders or former breeders out there feel free to give me any other advice you have to offer!
7) Should I be adding any salt (I'm not now) I fear the catfish may suffer from it. So if the mollies don't NEED it I won't do any.

My male sailfins:

 

[FuriousFish]

That is NOT overstocked. I could easily fit all of those fish in a 15-20 gallon with tons of space. Do not let anybody talk you into selling your "special fish". They are fine.

As for breeding, It would be a really good introduction into the breeding scene. Really fun to watch livebearer fry develop!



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[divemaster99]

That is NOT overstocked. I could easily fit all of those fish in a 15-20 gallon with tons of space. Do not let anybody talk you into selling your "special fish". They are fine.

As for breeding, It would be a really good introduction into the breeding scene. Really fun to watch livebearer fry develop!



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Really that's not overstocked! Then why the heck am I having nitrate problems doing 50%'s every other week with plants in the tank!?!?
Once I get the nitrates worked out I will get some more. Do you know the answers to any of those questions bro?

 

[strollo22]

If you have to do a 50% water change every other week, you're not overstocked. Plants or no plants. Under 20ppm is fine but obviously the lower the better.


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[divemaster99]

If you have to do a 50% water change every other week, you're not overstocked. Plants or no plants. Under 20ppm is fine but obviously the lower the better.


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I tested today and Nitrates were 70. Doing a WC on Wednesday (probably 50%). I would do one tomorrow but I won't be home ALL day. Don't know what the heck is wrong. I'm overfiltering, doing 50%'s every other-every week, I'm not overstocked (apparently), I don't have any large or especially filthy fish. hmm, I wonder why (not joking actually serious with that last comment).

 

[jaxy4]

I have been debating what to do with my 3o gallon tall tank for a few months before I decide to add any more or take out any fish. A few people suggested to me to breed mollies since they are one of my favorite community fish and they are a great start into the breeding field. The fish that are currently in my 30 tall include:\
1 Koi Angelfish 3"
1 Blue Gourami 2.5"
3 Penguin Tetras 1.25"
1 Black Phantom Tetra (Rescue and does fine with the other tetras) 1.25"
2 Bronze Corydoras 1.5"
1 Asian Bumblebee Catfish 2.75"
2 Male Silver Sailfin Mollies (of course) 2.75"

I think this may be slightly overstocked and am working on getting the number down (so hard for me to part with fish I've had for so long).
I would LOVE to start breeding especially with a fish that you can breed hardly trying. I have a breeder net to put the fry in for whenever they are born.
Before I decide on going through with this I have a few questions:

1) I am not getting any more males but how many females in proportion to the 2 males I have should I get? 4?
2) Can I crossbreed types of mollies (ex. silver sailfin male X Gold Dust Female, etc.)?
3) What do I feed and how often should fry be fed?
4) What level should nitrates be kept under to ensure healthy fry (under 10 I assume)
4.5) How often should I do water changes while fry are present
5) How much if any profit can be made off this (not in it for the money, I'll give them away if necessary but just wondering)
6) All you Molly breeders or former breeders out there feel free to give me any other advice you have to offer!
7) Should I be adding any salt (I'm not now) I fear the catfish may suffer from it. So if the mollies don't NEED it I won't do any.

My male sailfins:
View attachment 990731

Four females should be good that way, hopefully, one female doesnt get the workload.
Yeah you can crossbreed, a molly is a molly.
I feed twice a day with crushed up flakes and have full grown mollies that ive had since they were little fry.
Keep normal level nitrates, theyre pretty hardy little fish.
I do weekly 25%-50% water changes, as i normally would without any fry.
Maybe if you find the right mollies to sell and the right person to buy, you could make a couple of bucks. My friend takes fry i dont want and if i have too many, petco takes them, but i dont get any money from it. Or they are food for my fish.
The mollies dont need salt.
Breeding mollies is so easy, seriously all you have to do is feed them


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[divemaster99]

Four females should be good that way, hopefully, one female doesnt get the workload.
Yeah you can crossbreed, a molly is a molly.
I feed twice a day with crushed up flakes and have full grown mollies that ive had since they were little fry.
Keep normal level nitrates, theyre pretty hardy little fish.
I do weekly 25%-50% water changes, as i normally would without any fry.
Maybe if you find the right mollies to sell and the right person to buy, you could make a couple of bucks. My friend takes fry i dont want and if i have too many, petco takes them, but i dont get any money from it. Or they are food for my fish.
The mollies dont need salt.
Breeding mollies is so easy, seriously all you have to do is feed them


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Just flake, that's all they need? I was expecting to need to feed something like baby brine shrimp. That's a relief. I just thought of something though, if I have fry in a breeder net that HANGS and TAKES IN water from the TOP, what do I do when I do a big water change? even 25% would take the level under the net.

 

[FuriousFish]

Just flake, that's all they need? I was expecting to need to feed something like baby brine shrimp. That's a relief. I just thought of something though, if I have fry in a breeder net that HANGS and TAKES IN water from the TOP, what do I do when I do a big water change? even 25% would take the level under the net.

Just crush up flakes or get baby fish powder... Powder is like $4... Snd when you do a water change just move the babies to a separate container...


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[jaxy4]

Just flake, that's all they need? I was expecting to need to feed something like baby brine shrimp. That's a relief. I just thought of something though, if I have fry in a breeder net that HANGS and TAKES IN water from the TOP, what do I do when I do a big water change? even 25% would take the level under the net.

Yep, you could spoil them with other stuff if you feel like it though.
I dont use breeder nets because my fish in the tank dont usually eat the fry and i dont care to keep them since i get so many. You could fill up a separate bucket when doing a water change and hang the breeder net off that until youre done, just a suggestion


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[divemaster99]

Yep, you could spoil them with other stuff if you feel like it though.
I dont use breeder nets because my fish in the tank dont usually eat the fry and i dont care to keep them since i get so many. You could fill up a separate bucket when doing a water change and hang the breeder net off that until youre done, just a suggestion


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Thanks good idea . I would attempt to leave them in only I have a nocturnal predatory catfish that will eat small fish and I can HEAR him from upstairs in the middle of the night moving gravel around so...not sure how well slow moving tiny fish that sleep near the bottom would do with him