Can Mollies Live With Goldfish?
Is keeping Molly and Goldfish in the same tank the best choice? You might be thinking what’s wrong with keeping these two together when you can have different fish in the same tank? It’s not that these two don’t get along; rather, the most crucial factor to take into account is how they must survive since, at the end of the day, they are two entirely different species.
Goldfish and mollies cannot coexist in the same aquarium. This is due to the fact that goldfish do better in colder water than molly fish, which survive in warmer temperatures. Molly will get hostile against them if you keep them close to one another.
Therefore, before making any judgments, read the article below to have a better grasp of their demands and requirements.
So, Are Goldfish and Mollies Suitable?
It would be fun to have a tank with both goldfish and mollies because they are both attractive and simple to nurture. Many aquarists, however, are of the opinion that these two species cannot cohabit. You should still attempt to keep them in the same tank despite this, though.
The characteristics that distinguish mollies and goldfish from one another can be made up for. They are not, however, the ideal match for one another. By examining their characteristics, you can determine:
Conditions for Fish
If you’re new to keeping fish, you should conduct a lot of study about the temperament of your choice! Every well-maintained aquarium must be matched to the personalities of your fish! Fish temperaments can range from calm to aggressive, and they also take into account things like swimming style and how their surroundings impact them.
The Behavior of a Goldfish
Unexpectedly, goldfish are calm creatures who are quite gregarious! They will thrive in a group, mostly with those of their own species, however other fish with similar temperaments won’t bother them.
Goldfish adore swimming around the perimeter of their aquariums. This implies that if you believe a goldfish would make a good pet for you, you must get a tank with lots of space.
There is a suggested quantity of water for each Goldfish, but in order to make the most of the available space, we also need to consider how many fish will be kept in the tank. This is to guarantee their freedom of movement and the tranquil temperament for which they are renowned.
Mollies Persona
The molly is another peaceful species of fish! Although they have temperaments that are comparable to Goldfish, it is not advisable to keep them together.
This is because of the regular aggression displayed by Mollies toward Goldfish. Although some individuals have reported that Mollies can get unfriendly even when they are living together, Mollies can turn aggressive toward other fish in a crowded community tank.
There could not be enough females in the tank or Mollies may be exhibiting their dominance. It’s crucial to keep the Mollies away from the goldfish in order to preserve their health.
Can Molly and Goldfish Coexist?
1. Mollies are Smaller than Goldfish
Fish devour everything they can fit in their mouths, thus size counts. For goldfish, this is especially true. They can swim quickly and have been observed accidentally swallowing smaller aquarium animals. Goldfish are a threat to fish that are far smaller than them since they are on average 6 inches long. Mollies, though, are a respectable match for goldfish at 4.5 inches. Additionally, they move quickly enough to avoid being caught by your goldfish.
Because of this, size doesn’t really matter when it comes to these two species. However, when the mollies are still quite young, you should consider size variations. They will be simple in such a situation.
2. Mollies Need Warmer Climates
The need for water is a problem. Although you should maintain the pH between 7.0 and 8.4, goldfish are not very picky about it. In that sense, molly fish is similar to other fish. They need water that is between 6.7 and 8.5 on the pH scale.
Your most serious problem, temperature, is the exception to that rule. In moderately chilly water, goldfish flourish. They thrive in aquariums that are kept between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Mollies, on the other hand, require temperatures between 70 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
By keeping two types of fish in the same tank, one of the fish will be forced to adapt to conditions they may not normally love. Even if it is possible, this isn’t the best option—at least not for fish. However, of the two, mollies appear to be less sensitive to temperature.
3. It’s Difficult to Predict Mollies
Both species get along well and are calm. They are also quite sociable, thus in a perfect world, they would enjoy one another’s company. Mollies, though, can strike at any time. They are capable of acting aggressively given the correct conditions.
Once this occurs, they may have a reputation for being infamous fin nippers, which might make life for your goldfish very difficult by eating the slime off its body. If you have gentle, slower-moving individuals such as fancy goldfish, then the mollies will bully them.
4. Mollies can become Combative around Food
When it comes to dietary habits, neither species presents any special difficulties. They can eat the same dishes because they are both omnivores. For instance, in nature, both mollies and goldfish consume a lot of plants and algae.
It would be beneficial if you duplicated this diet for the fish in the tank by giving them ample amounts of veggies. However, neither species will typically make mealtimes challenging. However, as was already said, certain mollies are hostile.
Therefore, slower goldfish are unable to compete for food with aggressive mollies. This is one of the factors that some aquarists use as a deterrent when mating the two species. Mollies are risky because of their unpredictable nature. On the other hand, it would be equally simple to catch a tranquil molly.
5. Goldfish is Messy and Unacceptable to Mollies
Another essential factor is hygiene. Molly fish are resilient and can endure in aquariums with unfavorable pH and temperature conditions. Despite this, they have a high level of sensitivity when it comes to cleanliness. They require a tidy, kept aquarium.
Because goldfish are untidy and generate a lot of trash, this is an issue. Because of this, I advise getting a powerful filtration system if you want to cultivate goldfish. By doing so, the tank won’t deteriorate.
Additionally, keeping goldfish in warm environments—like those a molly prefers—will speed up their metabolism. They will consume more food, which will result in a significant increase in trash. In other words, they’ll make it much more difficult to keep the tank clean and tidy.
Requirements For Habitats and Tanks
For a fish to be happy, its natural habitat must be replicated. A nice tank will provide shy fish places to hide and give sociable schools space to explore. Additionally, we aim to mimic the ambient temps that fish would naturally experience. By doing this, we contribute to stress reduction and constant oxygen levels.
Instead of focusing on what you think would look beautiful in the tank, it’s crucial to do a study on what will benefit the species you desire. This can be the difference between your dogs prospering and them passing away quickly.
Habitat of Goldfish
Anywhere you would find fresh water is a goldfish’s natural home. This includes lakes, reservoirs, and streams. You may anticipate finding numerous rocks, plants, and other fish in these types of environments.
Tank Requirements for a Goldfish Tank
We are all aware that goldfish are sociable fish who enjoy swimming about in their aquariums. We advise providing each Goldfish with twenty liters of water when purchasing this particular fish.
For your first tank, however, allocate forty gallons for the first Goldfish and an additional twenty gallons for each additional Goldfish. This means that for your first tank, you should look for one that has at least 60 gallons because goldfish love to be in pairs or more. A good way to make sure you have room for additional calm fish if you’re thinking about introducing them is to find out how much water they need.
Fish stress out when their tanks are overcrowded, and some non-aggressive fish may even become violent out of frustration.
pH Level and Temperature
Since they can affect whether your fish live or perish, the pH balance and temperature of your tank must be precisely correct.
The pH of your water determines how acidic or alkaline it may be. Depending on the circumstances of the streams in their natural habitats, different fish would survive at variable levels even if they were grown in captivity.
For a goldfish to survive, your personal aquarium’s pH level should be between 7.2 and 7.8. Others claim that the goldfish’s adaptability enables them to thrive in environments that are not of this scale. For the sake of keeping them from getting sick and ultimately dying, we advise against doing that even if it could be successful for a short while.
Maintaining this pH level is essential, along with the right temperature. Water that is between 20 and 23 degrees Celsius is ideal for freshwater fish like goldfish. Your goldfish’s health might be harmed by any temperature that falls within or rises over these limits.
Plants
The most crucial factor to take into account when selecting plants or ornaments for your tank is how they will affect how clear the water is. It’s also important to consider the types of plants that will grow well in the water.
With plants like Pennywort or Hornwort, Cabomba, Java ferns/moss, or Pothos, goldfish will do very well. These specific plants, which are ideal for your goldfish, thrive in colder water temps and don’t require continual lighting or heating.
Habitat Molly
Mollies are mostly found in fresh waters in Mexico and the southern regions of North America. Depending on the specific mollies you acquire, mollies can be found in brackish, salt, or coastal waters.
They can survive in low oxygen situations because they may be found in shallow waters, and they will conceal themselves from predators by hiding among underwater vegetation.
Tank Volume Requirements for Molly Tanks
The type of Molly fish you choose will determine the size of the tank you require. Another aspect is how many Molly fish you start with. The normal water requirement for a school of molly fish is 20 gallons, whereas bigger species, such as the sailfin molly, may need at least 30 gallons.
Despite the fact that mollies must live in schools, you need to take precautions to avoid overcrowding your aquarium as this might lead to conflicts among the schools. You run the risk of losing all the fish in the aquarium when they all start to feel agitated.
Temperature and the pH scale
For the sake of your fish, it’s crucial that you maintain a constant, steady pH level since variations stress them out. Since molly fish prefer harsher water conditions, they do best in water that has a pH of between 7.5 and 8.5.
Mollies should ideally be kept in water that is between 21.5 and 28.5 degrees Celsius in temperature. Despite their reputation for flexibility, it’s crucial to be flexible with your fish rather than the other way around. Your Molly’s health will significantly benefit from maintaining consistency with the pH level and temps.
Plants and Decorations
Filling your Molly tank with plants is the finest thing you can do for it! If they sense a threat from a predator, mollies will hide in the vegetation, which is ideal for a communal tank. Plants, however, also facilitate spawning and reproduction.
It’s okay if you wish to add gravel to the tank where the Mollies are. However, since this is where your fish will sleep at night, we want to maintain a fine, sandy texture. Include rocks and other decorations that they may rest on; this will also serve as hiding spots for them.
Diet
Diet is mentioned as one of the most crucial elements to comprehend while keeping fish, just like the other discussion topics. Fish require a balanced diet with a variety of foods in order to reach their ideal size, just like all other animals do. Their feeds should be similar to what they would eat in the wild, but they can also include fish pellets that provide any necessary essential elements.
Diet of Goldfish
Since goldfish are omnivorous, you may feed them a variety of foods, which is excellent! Goldfish have the propensity to consume anything that fits in their mouths, so keep that in mind! Anyone who wants to raise little fish or crustaceans in their communal tanks will run into this issue.
We advise feeding your Goldfish no more than what they can consume after two minutes, two to three times a day. This will prevent the accumulation of icky food and filth in your tank. In the environment, goldfish would have unrestricted access to a variety of foods, such as plants, plankton, crustaceans, and insects.
If you have goldfish, it’s ideal to mimic their natural diet, however, you may also give them any Goldfish flakes or pellets from aquatic/pet stores. Just make an effort to vary your diet sometimes. Goldfish could become tired of a monotonous diet if you don’t sometimes switch things up.
Molly Diet
Small fish called mollies need to be fed around twice each day. You have a wide range of alternatives for what to feed them because, like Goldfish, they are omnivore fish. You may purchase special fish food for Mollies, just like you can for other fish, but you should also use other foods to provide your fish with a diverse diet.
Given that your school of mollies has very tiny digestive systems and stomachs that are roughly the size of their eyes, we advise giving them a pinch of food at a time. You might also attempt the “only give them what they can eat in five minutes” approach to prevent overfeeding.
Overfeeding compromises the health of your Mollies and dirties the tank, which can harbor parasites and sickness.
Mollies may consume little bits of peeled green vegetables in addition to food flakes or pellets. This also includes vegetables like lettuce, cucumber, and spinach. You may also feed your Mollies krill, brine shrimp, or blood worms.
How Can it Work?
It would be accurate to say that these two types of fish shouldn’t coexist in the same tank after taking everything into account about how they live. Even the most fundamental factors like temperature are different for these fish in various settings. Additionally, Mollies may become hostile while living together, which is unfair to either fish.
Which Fish Can Live with Mollies?
Fish that get along with mollies frequently share traits with them, such as similar size and temperament. Examples of this category often include gobies, platys, tetras, Swordtail, and endless. These fish not only have characteristics in common with mollies, but they also thrive in habitats with similar pH and temperature ranges.
Guppies: These are little, colorful fish. Because of their loving nature, they get along well with other peaceful fish. Since they can swim swiftly, they can avoid any aggressive fish in the tank.
Endlers: Endlers and guppies share a lot of characteristics. Due to their small size, anyone with large, aggressive fish shouldn’t keep them as pets. They might be able to survive in a tank with mollies, though, if the conditions are correct.
Another tiny and swift species is the platyfish: Like guppies, platys get along with their neighbors and are generally amicable. They are so simple to take care of that new aquarists would appreciate them. Additionally, they don’t occupy a lot of room.
Tetras: Tetras are available in a variety of hues. They should be kept in big groups since they are sociable fish. You might infer from this that they like the company of other amicable species like mollies. They can consume the same foods as your mollies because they are omnivores.
Swordtails: Beginners can also use swordtails. They come in a respectable variety of hues and are fairly durable, able to endure different climates. They make excellent friends for mollies due to their calm disposition.
Which Fish Can Coexist with Goldfish?
Zebra Danios, Rosy Barbs, Loaches, Plecos, and Corydoras may all coexist peacefully with goldfish. These species are similar in size to goldfish and are generally docile. These fish have requirements for pH, temperature, filtration, and tank size that are comparable to those of goldfish.
Rosy Barbs: Due to their sociable nature and enjoyment of other fish, rosy barbs are regarded as desirable tank mates. Since pink barbs grow to an average size of 6 inches, like goldfish, goldfish cannot consume them. Additionally, they don’t need a lot of focus.
In the same frigid conditions as goldfish, zebra danios flourish. Goldfish can eat them since they are tiny enough. However, if hungry goldfish are around, they may also run away quickly.
Hillstream Loach: Like goldfish, the Hillstream Loach prefers frigid temperatures. Due to its appetite for food leftovers and algae, it is a desirable tank companion for goldfish. In other words, your goldfish are unlikely to fight each other for food. The Chinese butterfly and Borneo sucker loach are two more types of loaches that work well with goldfish.
Plecos like the bristle nose are troublesome since they have a reputation for suckling on animals’ slime coats, including those of goldfish. With a Bristlenose Pleco, though, this is less likely to occur, particularly if you keep it well-fed.
The banded corydoras is a social fish that does best in large groups. Additionally, it is serene. The monster is only four inches long, so you don’t have to worry about your goldfish eating it. It can endure temperatures below zero just like goldfish can.
The Bottom Line on Can Mollies Live With Goldfish?
It could be difficult to maintain both mollies and goldfish in the same aquarium. That’s because mollies need somewhat warmer water than goldfish, who prefer colder temperatures. Additionally, mollies are unreliable and dirty, which are traits that make them unsuitable for goldfish.
It is preferable to modify the goldfish’s temperature if you still want to maintain them with mollies (68 to 74 degrees F). Additionally, make sure the tank has adequate space (at least 20 gallons) and has enough vegetation and hiding spots.
