[Punki]

Okay, so basically my grandma rents places out, and this lady ditched out and left a fish in a nasty tank filled with brown water and snails for a week without food and im sure much longer without a water change. Today, a week later, they go in to clean it and find this fish in its nasty stuff and they figure who better to give it to then me aka family fish girl LOL! But i know alot about Bettas....Not other types, and i got no idea what this is. Its tiny and pretty and underweight im sure, and its a bit raggedy but i cleaned its tank, put fresh water in and prime and im just unsure if it needs heat or an airstone or what... I tried to get pics of it but its fast, i hope someone knows.

 

[FishyFishy89]

looks like a dalmatian molly...looks too long and skinny to be one tho.
However, considering she left the tank in that state lord knows wither or not the fish was ever fed.

 

[Punki]

Thank you, on the main tropical fish forum someone else agreed with what you said, a dalmation molly. But a really malnourished one =/ Its tail is a bit ripped but it was the only fish in a bowl with about 100 snails.... The bowl held 3g and the water looked yellow at a glance and was very full of poo.. Despite its conditions it seems happy in fresh water Luckily its care is similar to my bettas so i already have a heater ect. But im wondering...I bred my bettas about 5 months ago and the babies i kept were all females and peaceful at that. Thres room for it in there if it/they get along but im not sure about that.

 

[FishyFishy89]

Thank you, on the main tropical fish forum someone else agreed with what you said, a dalmation molly. But a really malnourished one =/ Its tail is a bit ripped but it was the only fish in a bowl with about 100 snails.... The bowl held 3g and the water looked yellow at a glance and was very full of poo.. Despite its conditions it seems happy in fresh water Luckily its care is similar to my bettas so i already have a heater ect. But im wondering...I bred my bettas about 5 months ago and the babies i kept were all females and peaceful at that. Thres room for it in there if it/they get along but im not sure about that.

I wouldn't put this little one in with anyone just yet. He or she may have some hidden issues that could affect your whole set up.

 

[Shirleythebetta]

Sometimes mollys can be agressive I have two (black mollys) and I would never put them with my betta's they can get as big as 6 inches but I think that depends on if this guys growth was stunted being in nasty water. They are also mostly recommended for 20 gallon tanks and brackish water. I agree that it does look like a dalmation molly. I miss mine

 

[Shirleythebetta]

p.s. they also do better in groups. They are schoolers if you could pull that off. The only issue with it being with more mollys is they are breeders! You may end up with loads of babys.

 

[FishyFishy89]

p.s. they also do better in groups. They are schoolers if you could pull that off. The only issue with it being with more mollys is they are breeders! You may end up with loads of babys.

THIS....was the main issue that made me turn away from mollies. I love how cute they are and debated on stocking my 75 gallon with tons of mollies. But then I heard they breed faster than jack rabbits

 

[Punki]

Hm.. My stepmom up the road has a heated outdoor pond that holds 100's of gallons of water. It has goldfish, random minnows, and koi in it, Maybe this guy would be happier there with more space. I dont really have space for a big fish if it grows beyond a 3-5g tankspace. Would it do okay with larger fish? I worry it may get eaten by a monster Koi lol!

 

[FishyFishy89]

Hm.. My stepmom up the road has a heated outdoor pond that holds 100's of gallons of water. It has goldfish, random minnows, and koi in it, Maybe this guy would be happier there with more space. I dont really have space for a big fish if it grows beyond a 3-5g tankspace. Would it do okay with larger fish? I worry it may get eaten by a monster Koi lol!

Yeah, kois would make a lunch outta him....or her

 

[Shirleythebetta]

THIS....was the main issue that made me turn away from mollies. I love how cute they are and debated on stocking my 75 gallon with tons of mollies. But then I heard they breed faster than jack rabbits

They are so similar to platys. I bought a female platy and a week later she had forty babys. :shock:

 

[stevenjohn21]

6" Holy Moly ! You must of had a monster Molly !!! I wouldntt recommend putting a 6" fish into a 20 gallon tank IMO

 

[ladayen]

It almost looks like some kind of killifish. You'd think a molly that skinny wouldn't be alive.

 

[FishyFishy89]

It almost looks like some kind of killifish. You'd think a molly that skinny wouldn't be alive.

fins and colors don't match up
but I only googled images of them...

 

[MistersMom]

No, it's a molly, there arent any Dalmatian Killifish. :/

 

[Olympia]

If you don't have room, I'd probably post an add looking for someone knowledgable to take him/her. Mollies produce tons of ammonia and that poor thing has probably been seriously affected by this. Let her heal some more and rehome her.

 

[Chesh]

AWW! Poor thing... SHAME on that woman! Definitely looks like a molly to me. I don't know much yet, but I love my little mollies! I actually have a couple of dalmatians and they look quite a bit like that little guy (though agree with the others that yours is super thin). Mollies are tough little critters! S/he WILL need a bigger space than a betta, yes (they have a higher bioload than many fish), but before you decide to toss him into a pond look closely at what's left of his topfin, and compare it with some images online. There are several different types of mollies that can carry the 'dalmatian' coloring, and the Sailfin mollies are the largest. Some types only get to be around 3 inches. Still a big fish, yes, but not pond material! Also. . . a lot depends on his personality. MY mollies are NOT aggressive AT ALL and have been just fine in a community tank with various room-mates, including guppies, goldfish, pleco, neon tetras, apple snails, and an African dwarf frog, so once you're sure that he's disease-free, you might want to give it a try with some beta room-mates adn see how it goes! Also, and I *might* be wrong about this, but I don't think that Mollies are schooling fish. I think they do fine on their own, but are more playful in company. Again, new at this and might be wrong. . . I AM sure that if you had more than one sex you'd have to keep the 2/3 female for every 1 male ratio. I really hope you find a way to take care of this poor little fish, and that he makes it through this ordeal. Mollies are charming little fish. . . What a wretched woman! Ug! Good luck!

 

[Shirleythebetta]

6" Holy Moly ! You must of had a monster Molly !!! I wouldntt recommend putting a 6" fish into a 20 gallon tank IMO

I never owned one that big mine was only 3ish from head to tail. In rare cases they do go to six inches and shockingly enough, most people recommend 20 gallons at minimum for I think three. I have seen some as big as 6 inches at Jack's Aquarium they were awesome.

 

[Chesh]

There! Dalmation Molly! MAX size on this guy should be 4 inches, and he's VERY nice! If you lived near me, I'd try to help yours out

 

[Shirleythebetta]

AWW! Poor thing... SHAME on that woman! Definitely looks like a molly to me. I don't know much yet, but I love my little mollies! I actually have a couple of dalmatians and they look quite a bit like that little guy (though agree with the others that yours is super thin). Mollies are tough little critters! S/he WILL need a bigger space than a betta, yes (they have a higher bioload than many fish), but before you decide to toss him into a pond look closely at what's left of his topfin, and compare it with some images online. There are several different types of mollies that can carry the 'dalmatian' coloring, and the Sailfin mollies are the largest. Some types only get to be around 3 inches. Still a big fish, yes, but not pond material! Also. . . a lot depends on his personality. MY mollies are NOT aggressive AT ALL and have been just fine in a community tank with various room-mates, including guppies, goldfish, pleco, neon tetras, apple snails, and an African dwarf frog, so once you're sure that he's disease-free, you might want to give it a try with some beta room-mates adn see how it goes! Also, and I *might* be wrong about this, but I don't think that Mollies are schooling fish. I think they do fine on their own, but are more playful in company. Again, new at this and might be wrong. . . I AM sure that if you had more than one sex you'd have to keep the 2/3 female for every 1 male ratio. I really hope you find a way to take care of this poor little fish, and that he makes it through this ordeal. Mollies are charming little fish. . . What a wretched woman! Ug! Good luck!

I did a little research about the hole schooling thing after reading this and I tend to like your opinion. There are many differing opinions on molly's. Some say they are schooling fish and some say they are shoaling fish (like thier kind for social reasons only) I don't know though. My molly's are around each other a lot and rarely let eachother out of sight. I guess on schooling or shoaling or a loner fish you have to base it off of experience and what you believe. Great information.

 

[Shirleythebetta]

Here's a Molly fact sheet posted to a betta site that addresses their size capability and what they are compatible with.
http://www.bettatrading.com.au/Molly-Fact-Sheet.php