Pet Information > ASK Experts > Pet Fish > Fish > red mollies

red mollies

23 11:44:49

Question
how to grow healthy mollies.

Answer
Hello,
You did not mention the size of your tank, or the number of fry you have.  Mollies need space to swim, the bigger the tank, the faster, and healthier they will grow.  Begin by feeding them Baby Brine Shrimp, then Brine Shrimp.  Add Spirulina Flakes that you crush very small, (like pepper)   Mollies are vegetarians, so a good quality vegetable based flake, along with brine shrimp, and Spirulina will do just fine.  Feed them three times a day, and do 20% water changes every day.  Water changes are very important when raising fry.   Because we must feed them often, we must do water changes so that their water will always be clean, and free of ammonia.  Always fill the tank with the same water temperature that you have removed using a good water conditioner such as Stress Coat or AquaPlus.  Add one teaspoon of diluted aquarium salt to five gallons of water, and keep adding with each change of water.  If you remove 3 gallons, add 1/2 teaspoon of aquarium salt.  Mollies thrive in alkaline water.  Your PH should be 7.5 to 8.0  If your PH is low, add sea shells to your water.  This will bring up the PH.
I hope this helps, and that your fry will do well.
Lynda