Guppies, Platies, Mollies Ect In Fresh Water

[Mako Man111]

Can these fish thrive in fresh water? I am mainly interested in the guppies.

 

[Boxermom]

Yes, those are all freshwater fish. However, they do best with a little aquarium salt added, 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water.

 

[Mako Man111]

Yes, those are all freshwater fish. However, they do best with a little aquarium salt added, 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water.

Cool Thanks. But they should still live fine without the salt right?

 

[Alexis]

I have platies, guppies and a swordtail, and they all live perfectly fine in freshwater. I've only ever heard of mollies "needing" a bit of salt.

 

[Boxermom]

Even mollies do fine in freshwater, they just seem to do better with a little salt. All FW livebearers are pretty much the same. They also do well in full SW. Very adaptable critters.

 

[Annastasia]

Mollies need marine salt to make the water slightly brackish. Aquarium salt does nothing to alter the type of water, so you need to use Marine. Sure, you'll get people who say they're "fine" in fresh (Not aimed at you, Boxermom, I appreciate what you're saying!), but they may have just been lucky or they may have very hard and alkaline water. In short, they are better in slightly brackish.

 

[Mako Man111]

Mollies need marine salt to make the water slightly brackish. Aquarium salt does nothing to alter the type of water, so you need to use Marine. Sure, you'll get people who say they're "fine" in fresh (Not aimed at you, Boxermom, I appreciate what you're saying!), but they may have just been lucky or they may have very hard and alkaline water. In short, they are better in slightly brackish.

Wait, so for all the fish I posted above I need marine salt and not aquarium salt?

 

[Boxermom]

Yes, they do quite well with marine salt. However, they thrive nicely with a small amount of aquarium salt as well (not enough to register on a hydrometer, much less make it brackish). I disagree that they need marine salt. They do well with it but also without. If people have been lucky, then its a whole lot of people being extremely lucky, cuz there's an awful lot that keep them in totally fresh water, as well as many that keep them in full marine saltwater.

 

[nmonks]

Boxermom is probably right in saying that tonic salt will do, but I simply hate tonic salt and consider it something that should be expunged from the hobby!

I look at it this way: I've read here lots of stories about sick mollies that were kept in freshwater. I've read very few about mollies kept in brackish. Ergo, brackish water does no harm, and there's a good chance it will prevent a variety of possible problems. When I've kept mollies in brackish and marine they've thrived, but in freshwater (admittedly neutral to soft) they've done poorly.

Until you've seen healthy, hearty 15 cm/6-inch giant sailfins in a brackish water tank you haven't really kept fish. They're awesome, and squish the "livebearers are boring" line firmly on the head.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[Mako Man111]

Boxermom is probably right in saying that tonic salt will do, but I simply hate tonic salt and consider it something that should be expunged from the hobby!

I look at it this way: I've read here lots of stories about sick mollies that were kept in freshwater. I've read very few about mollies kept in brackish. Ergo, brackish water does no harm, and there's a good chance it will prevent a variety of possible problems. When I've kept mollies in brackish and marine they've thrived, but in freshwater (admittedly neutral to soft) they've done poorly.

Until you've seen healthy, hearty 15 cm/6-inch giant sailfins in a brackish water tank you haven't really kept fish. They're awesome, and squish the "livebearers are boring" line firmly on the head.

Cheers,

Neale

Ok thats good to know about the molly's. But what about the gups and plats, do they get sickly if not kept in brackish water??

 

[nmonks]

Guppies, platies, and swordtails do not need salt. They do need hard, alkaline water though, and if you have soft and acidic water, adding some marine mix will help harden the water.

Guppies do well in brackish water, even marine conditions if adapted with care. Swordtails and platies have a much lower salt tolerance, but will tolerate around 25% seawater without any problems. Thus, you can keep all 4 species in brackish water if you need to.

Cheers,

Neale

Ok thats good to know about the molly's. But what about the gups and plats, do they get sickly if not kept in brackish water??

 

[LouiseRat]

our guppys are thriveing in our freshwater tank

 

[Annastasia]

If people have been lucky, then its a whole lot of people being extremely lucky, cuz there's an awful lot that keep them in totally fresh water, as well as many that keep them in full marine saltwater.

I didn't say they needed marine salt, (Though I would suggest you keep them in that) I said they needed marine salt to make the water slightly brackish. Aquarium salt doesn't do much in terms of that. And, if you take into the consideration that they will do okay if kept in hard and alkaline water, that's a lot fewer who have been lucky. I'm not sure the lucky ones had thriving fish either. Either way, I agree with Neale. Brackish is safer, and I will always keep my Mollies in brackish.

Anyway, on topic, Guppies are fine in fresh. And with a little salt. They're pretty adaptable.

 

[fca1963]

salt in the water creates an hostil enviroment for bacteria that causes illnes and decease.....and also guppies platys and mollies comes from areas where rives meet the acean.....for those who say that these fishes are ok in fresh water without salt ...... I'm asking you this.....how 'd you feel if someone take you to live to the north pole or how about to a high mountain..........I'm very sure that you won't die..............but I bet that you won't like it...........so think that salt makes your fishes feel more like home
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