Molly fish are a favorite among many aquarium enthusiasts. They are easy to take care of and have various colors, shapes, and sizes. However, some people wonder if Molly fish can live in an environment that contains saltwater. Molly fish are freshwater fish, but can they live in saltwater?
The answer is yes. Molly fish comes from the natural habitat of brackish water where the river and ocean meet; hence they can live in saltwater because their bodies can adapt to it.
But remember to acclimate it before dropping them into the saltwater, and please maintain a constant salinity. Fish require water with the same salinity level as the surrounding ocean, so they aren’t dry or too wet living in freshwater all day long.
If you want to keep a molly on your desk at work or home, you should give them a tank with fresh water that matches the salty ocean levels around them and let them be happy. In this post, we’ll talk about can Molly Fish live in saltwater?
Can Molly Fish Live In Saltwater?
Mollies are freshwater fish but are famous for their adaptation to saltwater. They require a specific set of conditions to survive, including temperatures below 22 degrees C (72 degrees F) or warmer than 28 degrees C (82 degrees F). They also need the pH level between neutral and moderately acidic.
Since saltwater is naturally more acidic and has a lower temperature range, it would be difficult for Molly to survive. Hence, you need to ensure the salinity of water you are keeping them is low and acclimate these fish beforehand.
The pH level in saltwater ranges from about 0-14 on a scale of 14, which means that Mollies cannot live there because they need an environment with neutral or slightly alkaline waters (the pH at most freshwater lakes is between six and seven). This matter is if you don’t provide these conditions, your fish will die.
Although Molly fish have a reputation for being relatively tough to keep alive in home aquariums, they can acclimate over time by gradually introducing them to water with higher salt levels.
Do Molly Fish Need Salt To Live?
Molly fish are freshwater fish that originated in North America. They need a constant source of fresh, clean water to survive, so they thrive so well around human-made bodies of water like ponds, lakes, or rivers.
Some species of Molly fish live in saltwater, thanks to the salty water back from their natural habitat. One thing to note is that these are not the same as saltwater aquariums.
Rather they live close enough to the point where the river and ocean meet, thus with a high salinity level to thrive and survive.
However, no evidence says Molly fish needs salt to live. Although they can withstand some salt in their water, freshwater is best for them.
In addition, a higher level of salt would interfere with the gills of these particular fish and prevent them from breathing properly. So, they will die quickly because it’s too salty for them to handle.
How Much Salt Can Molly Fish Tolerate?
Molly fish is a live-bearing species that thrive in freshwater. They can withstand more salt than other types of aquarium fish, but ultimately they will suffer from high salt levels in the water and die over time.
A Molly Fish’s survivability is based on its ability to tolerate dissolved salts like sodium chloride (salt). Mollies have an average tolerance level range between 30 ppm and 150 ppm for short periods before it starts causing damage or death.
This means you should not use tap water in the tank as your source. Even though some cities distribute clean drinking water at about 15ppm, many regions have much higher concentrations of these agents.
Tapwater has various sources to contain elevated amounts ranging from 100 ppm to over 500 ppm of dissolved salts.
What Are The Advantages Of Saltwater In Molly Fish?
Molly fish are famous for their hardiness and withstand the coldest waters. The average water temperature where Molly Fish lives is between 75 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit. These mollies have a lifespan of up to 3 to 5 years, making them one of the aquarium fish that will live for quite some time.
In addition, these types of fish prefer temperate climates with temperatures around 70-degrees Celsius. This means it is difficult or near impossible for them to survive in saltwater environments like those found on tropical coasts.
But still, the saltwater environment has some benefits for Molly fish, such as:
- The salt in the water can help maintain buoyancy and the fish’s sense of balance.
- Salt in the water inhibits some parasites, bacteria, and infectious organisms that can be dangerous to Molly fish. However, these are usually freshwater animals, and their bodies cannot adapt to living in a salty environment. In addition, it has an antibacterial effect on wounds which could make this type of environment more desirable for them than others with a freshwater composition.
- They also receive better protection from predators such as sharks due to the high volume of salt present within the body fluids around their gills; without this layer, they would be much easier prey for those looking to attack them.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Salt Water?
Mollies are saltwater fish, and they can live in a saltwater aquarium. Also, saltwater has many disadvantages, as it is more difficult to maintain than freshwater tanks.
However, some of the disadvantages of the saltwater environment in Molly fish are:
- The salinity of the water is too high or low for a Molly fish’s blood to handle. As a result, their physiological systems are more familiar with freshwater conditions.
- It has high levels of chlorine and chloramine that may harm Molly’s gills or make its skin dry out too much.
- Saltwater requires special lights, unlike freshwater. They emit less light and could lead to algae growths on plants/decorations if left unchecked.
- Saltwater is more likely to corrode metal parts in the tank, so if you have a filter or heater that uses metal. Then, this may be an issue for your tank.
- There may be less oxygen in saltwater tanks than in freshwater tanks, leading to suffocation and death.
- There also might not be enough food available because they feed on zooplankton that lives only in freshwater environments.
These disadvantages make it very difficult for Mollies to survive if they live with other saltwater species like shrimp, crabs, etc.
How To Increase Molly’s Tolerance For Salt Water?
Mollies are salt-tolerant and will likely stay happy if kept in a marine aquarium. And since, saltwater does have some benefits. You can increase the tolerance of Molly fish for saltwater by using a few tips:
- First, use a marine salt mix to increase the salt tolerance of Molly fish.
- Then, gradually introduce Molly fish to saltwater.
- Rinse your tank and decorations with fresh water before first use. Then, introduce the marine salt mix to prevent possible chlorine contamination from tap water or other substances that may irritate their gills.
- Remove any live plants from the aquarium. Then, add a couple of rock or artificial media pinches that you can uproot before adding Molly fish. This will help keep it stable if they cannot stay on top of the substrate because of their impaired balance by decreased osmotic stability.
- Always use high-quality freshwater to change out 25% of tank volume at once, then gradually increase to 50% over time. Please do this for two weeks with each change and observe how better they look day after day.
Conclusion
Summing up, Molly fish is a freshwater species and can survive or live in oceans or seas with saltwater. However, the salinity of water will kill the animal by depleting its cells from life-sustaining nutrients and essential electrolytes. It is due to different concentrations of salts found within ocean water versus freshwater. So, make sure to adjust your mollies to the salt level present in the tank water.
Drop them in the comment section below if you have any questions or queries. Your mollies will stay happy when you take care of them properly.
So, Good Luck!!
Happy Fishkeeping!!!