Sailfin Mollies

Hello
   Its me again with another problem.I am in the process of setting up a Sailfin Molly tank,with java fern as I was told that they require a 2/3% saline water.On scroling thro the Molly topic there seems to be a conflict of opinion on this,but as this topic is about silver mollies,does this apply to all types.                        Even the books and experts cannot agree on this. Are there any Sailfin keepers on line,and do or not keep them in saline water.I await for the majority verdit before stocking up.
  Regards Pandaman
             PS Hope this goes to the right topic

If you was to keep wild mollies they do fine in freshwater, unless their collected from a brackish area.

The problem is the farms producing all the millions of mollies around the world keep ther fish in a saline water to reduce stress and encourage better better growth rates.

I would say that most mollies imported into the country are keped this way and that why so many people get problems with them at first till they use tonic salts.

If you get your fish from a breeder then they would probably be much better, but we see very few cultivated mollies that atuctions.

Alan

I don't have a great experience with Sailfin Mollies. I have bought them from shops before and bred them, but have not had great success with the fry and after 6 months or so, they have all dwindled and died.

I believe they are susceptible to fungus and mine have almost all developed bulging eyes which have ended up killing them. This would be why breeders add salt.

I know that you can keep sailfin mollies in a brackish set up, with Anableps for example, with little problems.

I have had wild form sphenops mollies from Martin on this forum before and did well with them without salt (although I ended up with all females).

So, I would say, salt with shop bought and fresh with wild / home bred fish.

Duncan, how large was the mollies when you decided they would only be females? D you still have them?
I have wild velifera and kykesis here but still only have limited experience. They breeder who gave them to me is a very skilled breeder. The key to these species is NOT salt, it is space, food 3 times a day or more, lots of water change and heat (26-30C). The parent veliferas was nearly 20 cm males.
It should also be noted that the size of the sailfin is primary a genetic thing, in the wild ex latipinnas have bot short fin pops and high fin pops.

Anyway, I am sure that true marine setup with very warm water would suit both velifera and many pops of latipinnas. Kykesis can also tolerate salt as most mollies but certainly shouldnt need it.

Martin

I think they were around 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches by then. Pretty large specimens.