Marble and Balloon Mollies Fish

Question
Today, we finally purchase our first 2 fish for our 10 gallon fish tank. After, we got online and been reading about Mollies, we have some questions.

1. We think the Balloon Molly could be female and pretty sure our Marble is a male. Is it Okay for them to breed?

2. We saw that is is recommend that salt be added. Is it required for their health, and if so will the salt be Okay for our 2 Black Myster Snails?

3. We have no real plants in our tank. Do we need to or are fish flakes fine?

4. We just got them in the tank today and the Balloon Molly is swimming like crazy where the Marble is staying behind the plastic plants.  Is this Okay or could something be wrong?

5. These are our 1st fishies in years, so any advice is needed and welcome.

Answer
Hi Tina,
Is your tank cycled? If your fish are darting and hiding in the tank this sounds like a water quality problem such as an uncycled tank. If your tank is fully cycled then they are just getting used to their new home. Molies are livebearers and the female will give birth every month as long as there is a male present. Salt is very benificial for their health although it will harm your snails. Fish flakes are fine although mollies like some vegetable matter in their diet such as lettuce leaves, peas and sprinula flakes.

Hope this helps
Chloe.