Molly fish are one of the most common freshwater fish in North and South America. But, do Molly fish have teeth? Usually, this is a question that many people ask themselves when they see this type of fish for the first time. But, do not worry. You are not alone in wondering about this.
Quick Answer:
Some Molly Fish do not have teeth, others only have two or three rows, while some may contain 12-16 rows of large sharp teeth. Teeth will help them catch their prey like shrimp and snails by flipping their tail to shake them off. The teeth are also vital for chewing and crushing their food.
Freshwater mollies like Poecilia sphenops or Mollienesia latipinna have teeth. But saltwater fish like Ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) don’t grow any teeth at all.
Before you make your decision on this question, let’s take a closer look at Molly fish.
Molly Fish Overview
Molly fish belong to the Poeciliidae family, which includes well-known aquarium fish like guppies, platies, and swordtails. There are around 39 different molly species, with some of the most popular being sailfin mollies, balloon mollies, black mollies, and Dalmatian mollies.
Mollies are omnivorous fish that feed on plant matter, insects, crustaceans, and other small invertebrates. In the wild, they are found in freshwater habitats like streams, ponds, and coastal brackish waters. Mollies are live-bearing fish, meaning they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
Do Molly Fish Have Teeth?
Molly fish are typically bottom feeders in the wild. They eat by scavenging and picking up food from the ground. Occasionally, Molly Fish will hunt small insects or crustaceans that have washed ashore on beaches. They do not have teeth but a suctioning mouth with two lips to suck out their prey’s body fluids and nutrients.
However, many wild molly species do possess teeth, though they are generally small and unevenly spaced. Mollies with teeth use them to feed on small invertebrates and debris. The teeth help grip and scrape food off surfaces.
What Are The Types Of Molly Fish With Teeth?
You can divide Molly fish with teeth into two categories: Molly fish with a single row of tiny, pointed teeth on the upper jaw and Molly fish with multiple rows of small sharp-edged, or flat teeth in both jaws.
Some mollies are more carnivorous than others, but even those that consume primarily plant matter will still feed occasionally on invertebrates they may find among their habitat’s vegetation.
Molly species with a single row of teeth include:
- Poecilia reticulata (Aequidens)
- Poeciliopsis gracilipes
- Poecilia latipinna (Puget Molly)
- Poeciliopsis monacha (Kissing Molly)
Several Molly species have teeth arranged in more than one row. These include:
- Sailfin Molly fish
- Poecilia Chica
- Mexican Mollies
- Ballon Molly fish
- Poecilia Butleri
- Poecilia Wingei
What Type Of Teeth Do Molly Fish Have?
Molly is just one type of fish out there with many varieties. Molly’s can be present all over North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Mollies are a part of the Poecilia family which has around 40 different types of species within this family group.
Molly fishes most commonly lack developed dentition due to their evolution into minnow-like creatures who feed by sucking up food rather than biting with a mouth full of needle-sharp pointed teeth like other predatory fish such as an Arowana. They are usually present in freshwater habitats and have to find their food by filtering through the water and sucking it up with a filter-shaped mouth instead of biting or latching on like they would if they had stronger teeth.
Molly fish also typically have smaller teeth because of their diet. They eat small animals such as insects, crustaceans, mollusks, eggs (most notably zooplankton), foraged plant matter, and other invertebrates that are generally too hard for Molly Fishes’ mouths without any dentition.
Some Molly Fish possess toothless dentition based on their diet, but most Molly fish have smaller and multiple rows of teeth.
What Is The Use Of Teeth In Molly Fish?
Molly fish are a type of freshwater fish that have teeth. They can survive independently in the wild without any help from humans because they have mouths with rows and rows of sharp teeth. Molly fishes’ gills allow them to extract oxygen from water, which is why they don’t need mouth breathing like land animals do when they are out of water for too long. These fish also eat some pretty tough foods, including plants like algae and other mollusks (which include clams).
Teeth are quite an important part of Molly Fishes being able to chew up their food. Otherwise, it wouldn’t all go down their throats, and some of it would end up left behind. Mollies’ teeth are also essential because they help Molly Fishes eat things like plants, which can be pretty tough to swallow without any teeth. These fish are pretty intelligent and can survive on their own in the wild teeth. They wouldn’t be able to eat as an effect without teeth gently.
It doesn’t mean that the fish cannot live without teeth. On the contrary, they can live without teeth. Mollies’ teeth are just there to allow them to survive a little easier.
Why Do Some Molly Fish Have No Teeth?
Molly fish are a type of minnow. Although some types of Molly fish have teeth, some might not have teeth. The reasons why Molly fish have no teeth are:
- Molly fish do not need developed teeth to eat their food. Molly fish are omnivores, so they can eat meat or plants depending on what is available in the water. They have a long, thin mouth that allows them to suck up plant matter and then use it for energy through digesting it internally.
- They live primarily off of plankton which has very little nutritional value other than some sugars and proteins. This lack of nutrition means Mollies’ teeth would be more likely to harm them by ripping out pieces of the tissue rather than help them chew or break down tough foods.
- Molly fishes also get plenty of calcium from bones present in prey animals like snails or shrimp shells and rocks at the bottom of the water. They can break down these bones and stones with a series of acids in their stomachs which also help them digest food more efficiently.
- Molly fishes have no teeth because they don’t need any due to how they eat, live, and find calcium.
Do Mollies Need To Chew Their Food?
Mollies are a type of omnivore fish. They do not chew their food but swallow it whole. Mollies have no teeth to grind up the food either. So they need a specialized diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. A Molly’s diet consists primarily of live foods such as worms, brine shrimp, or feeder guppies.
However, some mollies do have teeth and use them to feed on a diet that consists of fish flakes, nori seaweed, or small pieces of meat.
Other than live food from the water, Molly fish do not need chewing. So, they never develop teeth like different types of fish, such as goldfish, who chew up anything that comes within range.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Some of the frequently asked questions related to molly fish teeth are as follows:
What Do Molly Fish Eat With Their Teeth?
Molly fish eat plants and small insects, such as shrimp or other crustaceans, with their teeth located in the front of their mouths.
When Do Molly Fish Get Their Teeth?
Molly fish usually get their teeth when they’re about two years old.
Do Molly Fish Have Any Predators?
Larger predators like sharks can eat Molly fish because they can’t escape from them due to not having scales on their bodies.
Why Do Molly Fish Have Teeth?
Molly fish have teeth for eating plants and small animals so that they can survive.
Do Molly Fish Eat Other Molly Fish?
Molly fish will eat other molly fish because there is a lot of competition to live in the ocean where they all share an ecosystem.
How Big Are Molly Fish?
Their size varies depending on what area of the world the fish comes from and the food they eat. But most species grow to be around four inches long from nose to tail, with males typically being smaller than females.
Are There Different Types Of Molly Fish In The World?
Yes! Today, there are over 100 different types of this type of world, which is why it’s hard enough to name one.
Conclusion
Summing up, most molly fish don’t have teeth. But, on the other hand, some Molly fish have tiny scales in their mouths to scrape food from surfaces swallowing it whole. So it may not even be good a tooth at all.
Mollies with teeth are usually bottom feeders like catfish or carp because they eat through sand and gravel to find bits of food on the ground. They can mainly only consume soft-bodied prey such as worms or mollusks.
For more information about Molly’s fish diet habits, you should contact us! Until then, enjoy reading our article.
Happy Fish Keeping!
