Caring for Molly fish is vital to do while you pet them. First, of course, you want to give them the best and want them to stay with you for a long, long time. But before this, knowing their lifespan is also essential to understand if your purchase and care for them are worthy or not. Do you know the lifespan of your molly fish? How long do they actually live?
The lifespan of Molly fish is usually between 3 to 5 years longer on average, depending on the water Parameters, food quality, the healthy aquarium environment, and fish genetics. These factors play a vital role in the enduring lifespan of the Molly fish. However, if poorly emerged, the same factors become the reason for their short lives.
I know you want to get all the answers related to these factors. So, in this article, I will explain the Molly fish lifespan, or precisely how long do they live?
Should we begin?
Molly Fish Lifespan
I am sure you are curious about your Mollies’ typical survival span to care for them in every better possible way.
In general, the lifespan of Molly fish is up to 5 years of age. However, they usually live for 3 to 5 years on the average count.
However, several factors can impact their living in the aquarium. Sometimes, the Molly fish live for more than the expected average age, whereas some fail to survive until their maturity.
Thus, maximizing the proper care for your Molly fish is crucial to endure their lifespan.
Is The Lifespan Of All Molly Species Same?
Yes, the lifespan of all Molly species is approximately the same, i.e., up to 5 years.
Although you can see different Molly species with distinct appearances available, their lifespan would be standard.
But some Molly species may live longer or shorter than one another. It happens due to the difference in their feeding and care in the tank.
The better you feed, care for, and maintain the health of your Mollies, the better chances rise in their existence and vice-versa. But, apart from these details, there is no distinct difference in the lifespan of all Molly species.
Does The Lifespan Of Molly Fish Vary In Wild And Aquarium?
The living environment of Molly fish makes a difference in their longevity. So, yes, their lifespan in wild and aquarium varies.
Water is the crucial thing to view for the survival of the Mollies. They endure better in the correct water balance and quality in the wild.
They will survive in a constantly balanced environment, making their well-being sound. Due to this, their lifespan usually lengthens in the wild.
On the other hand, an aquarium is a closed artificial ecosystem. So even though you complete every necessity for the Molly fish, it cannot provide a complete natural essence to them. But, of course, nothing can beat the feeling of nature.
An aquarium may somewhat slip to provide the environment to the fish which they feel in the wild. Here, Mollies are likely to face the main problem; water balance disturbance, which affects them instantly.
Thus, yes, the lifespan of Molly fish is longer in the wild than in the aquarium.
Factors That Increase The Molly Fish Lifespan
As I mentioned before, there is a specific age till your Molly fish will live. However, there exist some factors that possibly increase your fish longevity.
Hence, some of the factors that increase Molly fish longevity are:
Fish Genetics
It is no mystery that good genetics promotes the good health of every living being. Similarly, if your Molly fish have good genetics, they will stay healthy and fit if you take proper care.
Thus, I suggest you look for a safe and dependable breeder while getting Molly fish. A genuine breeder will concentrate on breeding healthful fish with excellent genetics. Therefore, they will help you get long enduring Molly fish with good genetics.
You may wonder why to seek the breeder directly and why not the pet store? It’s all your choice to get to any of these people to find the Molly fish with good genetics.
But from my experience, I have encountered breeders as a better source for fish because their choice in the knowledge of good fish genetics always peaks. Also, some fellow aquarists have reported a lower lifespan of Mollies when purchased from pet stores.
Water Parameters
When the entire life of the Molly fish depends on water, what else better can be any factor than water for improving their longevity?
Maintaining ideal water parameters for molly fish to make their lives wholesome is significant. In addition, setting up correct water requirements will keep them physically and mentally healthy, which will support them in maintaining their longevity.
To maintain the ideal water parameters in the aquarium for Mollies, ensure the following requirements:
- Ideal Water Temperature for molly fish: 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
- pH Level: 7-8
- Water Hardness: 15 to 30 dGH
Therefore, the mentioned water parameters are crucial to maintaining the Mollies aquarium to supply the appropriate water levels.
Food Quality
Another factor that increases the Molly fish longevity is the food quality that resembles the one they consume in the wild.
Molly fish are omnivorous, but they eat other green diets like plants and algae. Therefore, it is more qualitative to feed them some natural food to improve and enhance their longevity.
However, if you wish to offer them some commercial diets, always look carefully for quality labels. Under this diet, you can feed frozen bloodworms, flakes, tubifex, frozen brine shrimp, and veggie tablets.
Besides, you can also prefer feeding them some homemade fish food as its quality would be pretty good. Here, the food includes light-boiled vegetables like spinach, carrots, green beans, etc.
Despite feeding any high-quality food to Mollies, note that overfeeding is not arising. You shall serve them a healthy diet once or twice a day in a smaller quantity only.
Aquarium Environment
The last but crucial factor that increases the Molly fish lifespan is a healthy aquarium environment.
Keep the aquarium healthy for Molly fish by removing their stressing issues from the tank. In addition, you must ensure keeping Mollies with a peaceful and decent number of tank mates.
Follow up the compatibilities of Mollies and their tank mates while keeping them together in a tank. Avoid aggressive fish and overcrowding tank space to keep them safe.
Also, manage Molly fish’s male and female ratio while keeping them in the aquarium. Generally, males are more aggressive than females due to the absence of a partner during mating heat.
Thus, always go for more females than males to prevent any mating inducement aggression. Secure your fish by providing adequate hiding spots and lighting in the tank.
Also, do not forget to change 20 to 25% tank water at least once a week to keep the tank clean; your molly fish needs a regular water change for good health. The food leftover, fish excretion, dead leaves, etc., get removed by doing this.
Male Or Female Molly Fish-Which Fish Live Longer?
There is no confirmation regarding the longer lives of either male or female Molly fish.
However, as female Mollies often mate and give birth to many Molly fry at once, they are likely to live shorter due to the possibility of some health issues. The breeding point follows on male Mollies as well.
But as molly fish don’t give birth to many baby Mollies at once or several times, their health is unlikely to get affected like the females.
Situations That Influence Molly Fish Lifespan Wrongly
Whenever something good exists, its reverse form will follow it too. Similarly, if some factors exist for the Molly fish’s long lifespan, the possibility of some situations shortening their lives comes along.
Thus, here are a few points that state some situations which influence the lifespan of your Molly fish:
Diseases In Molly Fish
The fish disease is one of the primary factors that put the Mollies’ life at risk. If you see your fish suffering and get fatal with or without medication, your fish may lose its life. In addition, the fish disease can make your Mollies lifespan shorter than the average scale.
Unhealthy Diet
An unhealthy diet undoubtedly makes your Molly fish physically suffer. They will stress out, feel dull, and weak due to the lack of proper nutrients that a healthy diet provides to them.
Eventually, Mollies get sick, which may put their survival at risk. Therefore, you need to understand and ensure what you should feed your molly fish.
Similarly, the number of times you feed them is also important to maintain good health and a longer lifespan. So make sure to know how often to feed your molly fish.
Irregular Water Parameters
As stated before, water is indispensable for the survival of Molly fish. So, if there are irregular water parameters in the aquarium, the fish gets uncomfortable, nervous, and stressed.
It is an unhealthy situation that influences their lives wrongly. For example, Molly fish might survive in cold water, but their lifespan will shorten due to the unhealthy water temperature fluctuation.
Similarly, test the salinity of the water more often; mollies can handle saltwater but not to the extreme level. These fish are sensitive to water parameters, and the slightest change can make them go crazy and act irrationally.
Also, do not forget to check the oxygen level in the tank. Your molly fish cannot survive without oxygen for long, but murky water and a dirty environment welcome oxygen shortage without you realizing it.
Even Aquarium ammonia poisoning or increment of harmful chemicals will invite themselves and kill your molly fish within a few days.
Improper Male And Female Molly Fish Ratio
If you keep an odd ratio of Molly fish in the tank, there will be aggressive and chasing game between them. Yes, your molly fish will chase each other during the breeding season.
Since they breed a lot, more male and less female Molly fish ratio creates mental stress. Such stress puts the fish in unhealthy situations and degrades their living.
You cannot keep two male molly fish together until and unless you have at least six females in the tank. They have to complement each other and make sure no war breaks out between two egotistic males.
Molly fish breeding cycle and the number of times females give birth also determine how long these fish will live.
Stress Due To Aggressive Tank Mates
If you fail to select compatible tank mates for Molly fish and opt for aggressive fish species, the stress will pile up in them.
Aggressive fish may chase and attack your Mollies, making them anxious to survive in the tank. Also, there is a high chance the fish may get hurt physically and mentally due to such tank mates.
Hence, aggressive tank mates’ stress may break down Mollies, which affects their health. Therefore, you need to learn and keep only the best tank mates with molly fish if you want to have them for a long time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, your Molly fish will have a good time and live longer if they inherit good genetics, take a qualitative diet, enjoy ideal water parameters, and have a healthy tank environment.
Follow the suggestions discussed above in this article to help your Mollies live long and wholesome.
Keep your fish healthy and happy!