Breeding/Keeping Balloon Mollies

Question
Hello,

I have a 29 gallon tank with two Glo-fish and two Opaline Gouramis. I want to get some Balloon Mollies and a few Cory Cats soon, along with some type of tetra or another type of molly.
I want to breed a *few* mollies (I do not want 1,000 of them...just a handful), so how would I go about doing it? I'd probably be buying about three or four from Petco as adults to start with and put two/three in a small tank to breed them in and raise some of the fry in while allowing the rest of the fry and the adults to go back to the main tank- the fry to maybe allow them to be eaten so I want have so many and the adults so they will be happier.

My question is this: Will the Aqueon Mini Bow Desktop Aquarium Kit fine for breeding balloon mollies in? I want one under 10 gallons so I can keep it in my room...
If that one is ok, what size should I get- 5,1 or 2.5? I'm assuming the 5 gallon?

Thanks in advance,
Ashley

Answer
Hi Ashley,

I'd consider getting males only if you don't intend on a large crowd of babies.  I have 12 right now.  The mother hasn't had a male around in a long time, either.  They are very prolific fish!

The aqueon mini bow will be perfect, but yes, I would go with the five gallon, because there may be more than you count on, more often than you count on.

Be certain to add salt to their water.  Many people and experts will tell you that Mollies don't require salt and they are wrong.  They are born in the wild saltwater marshes along where tributaries feed into the ocean, and are found wild, swimming in mangrove forests in Florida.  Mollies DO require saltwater.  All mine are in full salt systems, but most do require at least 1/4 cup of marine salt per gallon.

My mollies get sick if put in freshwater systems and they are always unhealthy.

Salt mollies are stable, healthy and breed like wild.  We get litters every 2 to 3 weeks per female.

:)

Good luck!

Renee