Does a Black Molly Need Salt?

Black mollies (Poecilia sphenops) are live-bearing aquarium fish originally from South America and Central America. They thrive in community aquariums as long as there are no fierce specimens around. Black mollies, like some other types of fish, like a little aquarium salt inside their freshwater environments.

  1. Basic Details

    • Black mollies, family Poeciliidae creatures, usually grow to around 3 inches. The males are just a tad bigger than the females. In nature, black mollies often reside in boggy locales. Wild black mollies consume a variety of things, including plants, crustaceans, bugs and worms. In aquariums, they are big on algae, plants, cucumber, lettuce, zucchini squash and flake foods, for a few examples. They are capable of residing in saltwater, freshwater and brackish settings. Hard water is optimal for these visually striking black fish.

    Salt

    • If a black molly inhabits a freshwater tank, salt is a good idea. These fish typically do well with a single teaspoon of salt for every gallon of water. Some black mollies do indeed stay strong and healthy in freshwater alone, but it is often thought that they become more robust -- and big -- when they have a little bit of salt in their water.

    Advantages of Salt

    • Salt can do black mollies good in several ways, some which you can see with your own eyes. Not only does salt help relax black mollies and minimize their frustration and strain, it makes their fins look better, too. It also keeps the slime that adorns their physiques in optimal condition. Fish slime isn't merely sticky, gooey stuff. It also is a major element for defending fish from a variety of hazards -- think illness and infection.

    Other Water Needs

    • Black mollies flourish with pH levels that are somewhere between 7.5 and 8.2. As far as H20 temperatures go, anything from 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit generally works well with them, too. They do not accept any water that contains any nitrite or ammonia at all. If you are uncertain regarding anything about your pet's water needs, speak to an aquatic veterinarian as soon as possible.