I have Mollies and have added salt to tank

[Fishy Mishy]

I am a beginner and have a 24 gallon tank. My local shop recommended a variety of cycling fish and I opted for Mollies. Since then I have read that they are brackish fish and promptly added salt to the tank - they are all doing well so far but I am confused as my shop said I can add most fish but reading various internet sites it appears not to be the case. Am I therefore stuck with just brackish fish or can I mix with normal freshwater?

 

[Annastasia]

Mollies aren't brackish. They can be kept in full freshwater, though they do like a little salt.

The only fish you cannot add, if you want to have salt in the tank, is scaleless fish like Loaches, Cories, Plecos, Tetras....

Mollies can do okay in plain freshwater though.. so in that case you can have any fish you like, as long as the tank is big enough and they are compatible.

 

[blitztidus]

I like to add other livebearers. they are fun and cooperate well. just make sure you have enough females for males.

 

[Fishy Mishy]

I like to add other livebearers. they are fun and cooperate well. just make sure you have enough females for males.

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what is the ideal ratio?

 

[Fishy Mishy]

Mollies aren't brackish. They can be kept in full freshwater, though they do like a little salt.

The only fish you cannot add, if you want to have salt in the tank, is scaleless fish like Loaches, Cories, Plecos, Tetras....

Mollies can do okay in plain freshwater though.. so in that case you can have any fish you like, as long as the tank is big enough and they are compatible.

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Well I have added 1tsp per gallon already so does that mean I am stuck to those fish liking salt now?

 

[blitztidus]

unless you clean out the entire tank and add new water but that would stress the fish out a lot. stressed fish are more prone to disease and bacteria. There are a lot of choices for fish that can live in your tank still. i have a cory cat in mine and it is fine. it cleans the bottom and goes on like normal. i have also had snails but you want to make sure it isnt touched directly by the salt crystal.

HAVE FUN CHOOSING.

 

[fish_keeper2]

Mollies aren't brackish. They can be kept in full freshwater, though they do like a little salt.

The only fish you cannot add, if you want to have salt in the tank, is scaleless fish like Loaches, Cories, Plecos, Tetras....

Mollies can do okay in plain freshwater though.. so in that case you can have any fish you like, as long as the tank is big enough and they are compatible.

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[/quote
Well I have added 1tsp per gallon already so does that mean I am stuck to those fish liking salt now?

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im not sure but maybe if u do a small(or several smaller ones throught the day) partial everday and dont add any more salt u will eventually remove all of the salt....i would geuss maybe 2 weeks at the most with a 25% partial everyday. ive never used salt so im not totaly sure though

 

[blitztidus]

I would look into fish that are capable to deal with that salt. there are a lot and it just depends what you want.

 

[fish_keeper2]

u could ask in the brackish section and find out what can go with mollies....as an aditional thought you might be stressing the poor thing out unless the lfs where u bought the molly keeps them in brackish water

 

[Fishy Mishy]

unless you clean out the entire tank and add new water but that would stress the fish out a lot. stressed fish are more prone to disease and bacteria. There are a lot of choices for fish that can live in your tank still. i have a cory cat in mine and it is fine. it cleans the bottom and goes on like normal. i have also had snails but you want to make sure it isnt touched directly by the salt crystal.

HAVE FUN CHOOSING.

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Ok dont think i will risk it - i will carry on with the salt - I was GIVEN 3 males and a female although they seem ok together - although was bit annoyed with fish shop to give me this ratio - i have since read it should have been the other way round! So when I next addd fish to my tank do you think I should get another female? Also what other choices of fish would you recommend. I like the other livebearers but are there any other choices not in the livebearer species that would like salted water? Sorry for so many questions but I am a newbie! Thanks

 

[Annastasia]

No, you haven't committed to salt. Do water changes for a few weeks, maybe every other day, and eventually the salt content will go down. Then you can add any fish you want, provided they are compatible. A little salt won't hurt many fish at all, it's just large quantities, often.

Edit:I It's hard to say what fish you can keep if you want to be brackish...not many Livebearers can handle all that salt. If you want to go freshwater, with just a small amount of salt in the water, I'd say Rasboras, most Livebearers, perhaps a small cichlid, though I'm not sure of their salt tolerance.

Remember, Mollies DO like salt in the water...but you can have salt without being totally brackish. If you do, put 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons (Usual dosage for Aquairum salt), they'll be fine, and you can keep other fish with them.

 

[Fishy Mishy]

u could ask in the brackish section and find out what can go with mollies....as an aditional thought you might be stressing the poor thing out unless the lfs where u bought the molly keeps them in brackish water

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I will ask them tomorrow - they are very lively and eating well - and look fab so hopefully this means they are not stressed???

 

[fish_keeper2]

unless you clean out the entire tank and add new water but that would stress the fish out a lot. stressed fish are more prone to disease and bacteria. There are a lot of choices for fish that can live in your tank still. i have a cory cat in mine and it is fine. it cleans the bottom and goes on like normal. i have also had snails but you want to make sure it isnt touched directly by the salt crystal.

HAVE FUN CHOOSING.

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Ok dont think i will risk it - i will carry on with the salt - I was GIVEN 3 males and a female although they seem ok together - although was bit annoyed with fish shop to give me this ratio - i have since read it should have been the other way round! So when I next addd fish to my tank do you think I should get another female? Also what other choices of fish would you recommend. I like the other livebearers but are there any other choices not in the livebearer species that would like salted water? Sorry for so many questions but I am a newbie! Thanks

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i would call up the shop and find out if u could get 2 males exchanged for females and then you should have 1 male and 3 females if i counted right.....as far as i know platies, guppies, and swords dont mind a little salt but im not totaly sure on that....like me and annastasia have said just do regular partials and eventually the salt level will go down and you can get more fish


the fish sound to be doing good good luck with them

 

[blitztidus]

sorry wasn't in 100% fish mode when I wrote that, sorry anna and fishy mishy

 

[blitztidus]

Oh and 1 male to every 2 to 3 females is ideal