Black Sailfin Mollies in the refugium?

Cody Ray · 05/24/2006, 11:17 PM

I have been thinking about adding a couple Mollies to my refugium. I want them to spawn and produce larger amounts of "plankton" than what I would normally get from pods. Any thoughts?

pepe.king.prawn · 05/25/2006, 12:31 AM

Very interesting idea!! I don't see any reason why that wouldn't work. While they may produce plankton in the form of their fry, they may also eat up the pods and stuff in your fuge. It would be neat though! They seem out of place in saltwater, but I know you can acclimate mollies, guppies and a few others to salt without a problem.

Cody Ray · 05/25/2006, 12:51 AM

From what I have read you can just throw mollies in and they acclimate fine. My issue with pods is that they are not "plankton: so to speak. Normally they are not free-floating like molly larva would be, so fewer of them actually make it to the aquarium from the refugium.

techreef · 05/25/2006, 07:08 AM

I've also read that freshwater fish have higher fat content in their bodies than saltwater fish, and so aren't very nutritious sources of food for SW creatures. I know mollies are brackish water fish, but i'd be a little leery of using them as a food source. they would liven up your refugium though. It's a cool idea.

Anemonebuff · 05/25/2006, 07:19 AM

Sounds like a great idea to me. Let us know how it goes.

Reefcherie · 05/25/2006, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ChinChek787
From what I have read you can just throw mollies in and they acclimate fine.

I've acclimated mollies to full saltwater and I highly recommend a slow drip method that brings them to full saltwater over the period of 12hrs to a day. They may "tolerate" faster acclimation, but I doubt it is good for their internal organs.

05/24/2006, 11:17 PM	#1
Cody Ray Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5,101	Black Sailfin Mollies in the refugium? I have been thinking about adding a couple Mollies to my refugium. I want them to spawn and produce larger amounts of "plankton" than what I would normally get from pods. Any thoughts? __________________ Limit 1 stupid question per day Current Tank Info: Mr. Aqua 7.5g bowfront

05/25/2006, 12:31 AM	#2
pepe.king.prawn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: east bay CA / UC Davis Posts: 778	Very interesting idea!! I don't see any reason why that wouldn't work. While they may produce plankton in the form of their fry, they may also eat up the pods and stuff in your fuge. It would be neat though! They seem out of place in saltwater, but I know you can acclimate mollies, guppies and a few others to salt without a problem. __________________ -Tristan Current Tank Info: 180gal live rock tank (no fish, no corals.. just live rock)

05/25/2006, 12:51 AM	#3
Cody Ray Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5,101	From what I have read you can just throw mollies in and they acclimate fine. My issue with pods is that they are not "plankton: so to speak. Normally they are not free-floating like molly larva would be, so fewer of them actually make it to the aquarium from the refugium. __________________ Limit 1 stupid question per day Current Tank Info: Mr. Aqua 7.5g bowfront

05/25/2006, 07:08 AM	#4
techreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 1,046	I've also read that freshwater fish have higher fat content in their bodies than saltwater fish, and so aren't very nutritious sources of food for SW creatures. I know mollies are brackish water fish, but i'd be a little leery of using them as a food source. they would liven up your refugium though. It's a cool idea.

05/25/2006, 07:19 AM	#5
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Sounds like a great idea to me. Let us know how it goes.