Adding crawfish to established tank.

Question
Ok here is the situation. My tank is a 45 gal freshwater tank and is inhabited by two large Mollys (male and female approx. 3.5"). Three medium mollys (4 month old offspring from the larger pair, approx 1.75"). 30<40 Baby mollys that just poped out of the large female (approx .5"). And 1 large mystery snail (about the size of a peach pit). I have asked the local fish stores, friends etc about taking some of the baby mollys off my hands (free of course), but no luck. A fish enthusiest suggested I get a small crawfish to help "balance the tank " by eating some of the babies and thereby creating a small eco system. That will balance itself out. It sounded a little barbaric at first, but I can see the logic since the large female looks pregnate again...
*Will the crawfish harm my Mystery snail? I love my snail to death and would not want to hurt it.
*Any merit to my friends suggestion?
*Any further sugestions?

Answer
hey Dwight,

Hmmm, the idea sounds like it could work.

it could end up eating your adult fish, so if you don't want to loose them there could be a problem. Also, I'm not sure about the snail. It would most likely be okay, but I'm not sure. If you asked an employee at your pet store, they could probably tell you.

Your friends sugesstion sounds like it will work out fine, but there really arent guaruntees as to what will live. I think trying out this same idea with a different animal will be a better idea that wont harm your adult fish and your snail.

* you could also get more mystery snails... if you only get one they should breed together because all snails are both male and female and can breed with any other snail of the same species. Only thing holding them back would be if they can find eachother in the 45 gallon tank. =/

1) most gold fish will gulp down babies, most likely to the point where hardly any babies will survive at all. If you do want some to live, then put in some areas with a lot of rocks and plants (plastic plants work better, then you dont need to worry about pollution and stuff). This way the babies have some where to hide, and any of the ones that dont go wandering out will live.

2) other mollies. You have a 45 gallon tank, you could get a decent amount of more fish. Mollies eat their own babies, there were probably at least ten more babies in the tank then the ones you have now that got eaten as soon as they were born.

3) another option would be to see if your pet store would want to buy them off of you. You could probably get either cash or store credit for them. You would need to raise them first until they are old enough though. This also works because You can see how many live to adulthood in the first place, if only one or two live you might want to keep them for your self instead.


another thing you will need to prepare for is for when the young adults start to breed. They will breed with each other and with their parents, as gross as that may be. there is a good chance that some babies wont live because of mutation from being incest, but some probably will live.

I hope this helps you out! good luck with your tank!
best wishes, chelsey