Mollies vs Pleco for salt level?

[kbob]

Someone mentioned that I shouldn't salt the water for my plecostomus. I also read that my balloon mollies like a little salt. Is this of such concern that I should move the Plecostomus to my new tank once it's ready? He is highly nocturnal so I havn't had a good look at him since I added the cave, but at night I can see him doing his thing on the glass and going for the algae wafers. What do you think?

Thanks!

JT

 

[pica_nuttalli]

what type pleco and what size tank? if its a common in anything less than a 55, it may serve you best to try and sell him off -- he'll quickly outgrow your tank.

as far as i know, commons are the only ones that have any sort of salt tolerance whatsoever. You may want to dig around in Catfish a bit and see what info you can find there.

 

[Mariah]

Kbob - Do you have pics of your balloon mollies? I do want to get some once Ive sorted out my tank problem.... I think there neat looking

 

[Def]

I was reading a very interesting article somewhere.... perhaps in last month's PFK, perhaps somewhere else, that contends that most "salt intolerant" fish aren't actually salt intolerant at all... let me see if I can find it...

 

[gadazobe]

Scaless fish get easily "burnt" by salt in the tank. Another reason is that salt intolerant fish will live in a low concentration of salt, but they won't thrive - there is a big difference between the two. Take an example. Us humans need oxygen to breath - we will survive in low oxygen atmospheres (unless we're used to it) but will find it difficult - we'll get stressed and unhappy, some of us may even get severe shortness of breath. Same with fish, they'll get stressed and unhappy if they're in an unsuitable environment so salt in the water is only advisable for fish that can tolerate it.

 

[GSD]

my mollies have no salt in the water n der fine!

 

[colegamby]

mollies dont need the salt it just helps with their breeding. they are happy without it.

 

[Def]

gadazobe, yep, I know that's the accepted info and it's what I believe too, but this article very much got me thinking. I wish I could find it.

 

[kbob]

Yes hes a common and its a 20-tall tank. He was a gift from my sister in law who always complained about all the algae on the glass. I have heard of size problems, but he's still young. For now he seems happy enough.

I have no pics of the mollies. My wife loves them and the only place we found them was Petco. The guy there says they come from a supplier in the northwest. I have a feeling Petco is probably just buying them all.