Aquarium fish tank mollienesia: description, photos, maintenance, reproduction

This beautiful aquarium fish has been bred artificially in the course of a careful selection of the members of the species mollinedia latipinna. Mollienesia cylinder has a very unusual body type — it resembles an air-filled ball. Cropped body that is not conducive to the normal functioning of internal organs, so the fish needs to be close attention on the part of man.

Despite this, mollienesia cylinder — is one of the most popular aquarium inhabitants, which bred many lovers of the underwater world.

External features

Mollies, photos of which often adorn publication for hobbyists – viviparous fish. Natural habitat – salt and fresh water of Latin America, from Colombia to Mexico. The male mollies are much smaller than females, in the nature of the species reach a length of ten to sixteen inches in the aquarium, they are much smaller – do not exceed eight inches.

Mollies, a photo of which you can see in this article was discovered in the southern United States and Central America. Breeding in aquariums began in 1899, and the first hybrids appeared in 20-ies of the XIX century. In vivo is painted in a yellowish-gray or silver color and have a blue, blue, green or black spots. Abdomen usually lighter and without spots. The trunk is short, thick, fins are strong and broad. However, in the course of hybridization and cross-hybridization were obtained by numerous variations of colors.

Mollinedia: description of the varieties of the balloon

This species also has a shortened body, with noticeable curvature of the spine. Fish mollienesia the balloon does not grow more than six inches. Its feature is a large abdomen. It is the result of modification of the species. Internal organs compressed and small. The color of the body is somewhat like mollinedia latipinna. But now widespread individuals of other colors: orange, red, black, silver, gray.

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These fish adorn the aquarium, so for many fans it is important that their underwater Kingdom, there lived mollienesia cylinder. How to distinguish female from male? Quite simply – in males there gonopodia (anal fin) cone-shaped, in females it is rounded.

Mollinedia the container: the contents in the aquarium

These cute fish are not suitable for densely populated small aquariums, although they are quite hardy and survive even in such conditions, provided regular maintenance and care of their home. When the pH of the water falls due to the excessive content of organic substances, the fish can suffer. In the aquarium for mollies should carry out regular water changes. A quarter of the total amount changed every 2-3 weeks. If the aquarium is overcrowded, it should be done more often.

There is another feature of the content of the balloon mollies: in the water you need to add two teaspoons of aquarium salt for every ten gallons of water. Do not forget to add in the substitution of salt water. If you add water due to evaporation, then add salt is not necessary, because she was left in the aquarium.

Despite the fact that these fish prefer salt water, they thrive in fresh water, but provided that it is not too acidic and soft. The water should be alkaline and hard.

Aquarium Decoration

Mollinedia tank needs live plants in the aquarium. Fish love the greens, especially when it is able to diversify their diet. But try not to overdo it with the landscaping — mollies need a place to move. Plants floating in the aquarium, help to survive to the fry, and some of them are extra food. Do not get involved in a scenic driftwood — they reduce the acidity, and viviparous fishes this is undesirable.

For the substrate, you can use any soil, though on lighter mollienesia the tank the better show its beautiful color. Need a good filtering system that will allow you to maintain stable water parameters. The well purified water males show their best colors.

This is a pretty active fish that need lots of space for swimming. If fish a little, then the minimum volume of the aquarium should be no less than 55 litres. If you keep a group of mollies, it must increase to at least 75 liters, and the ratio should be one male to three females. This will help you avoid fights between males. Preferred water temperature: 21—28 °C, pH: 7.0—8.5, hardness — 20—30 dGH.

Feeding

Although experienced aquarists believe that mollienesia cylinder - omnivorous fish, we must not forget that she has a high need for plant foods. The diet of this species should include a lot of algae and other vegetarian food. In nature their diet consists mainly of rotifers and algae. Small aquatic insects and crustaceans constitute only a small part.

The aquarium mollienesia the bottle with pleasure eats prepared food and live foods, but a large number of plant foods she particularly appreciates. Vegetable flakescombined with blanched spinach and cucumber will be a perfect Supplement to the basic diet. Don't forget to remove the remaining food. Between feedings mollienesia will gladly eat aquatic plants and some aquatic algae.

From the protein foods are fish, too, but to exist solely on it, they will not. Treat them from time to time Artemia (live or frozen), bloodworms, Tubifex. Food should be varied, several times a day. Let's feed in small portions, in such quantity that it was eaten in three minutes.

Mollinedia cylinder: reproduction

Mollinedia – the fish is viviparous: offspring is born fully adapted to life in water. The life expectancy of this species from 3 to 5 years.

Mollies breed easily in the aquarium, and the offspring very quickly reaches sexual maturity. Depending on the size of the fish age and the female gives birth to a hundred fry. In addition, the feature of viviparous fish is that the male sperm is stored in the body of a female for a long time. This allows you to give birth to fry several times, even if from the tank the male will be removed.

For breeding you only need to purchase individuals of both genders, and these fish will overpopulate a fish tank.

Pregnancy

Mollinedia balloon pregnant so visible in the aquarium: it has a dark spot in the lower abdomen near the anal fin and a big belly. Pregnancy at mollies lasts about four weeks, after which the light, the larvae hatch. Many aquarists argue that with age, the largest specimens are able to give birth to two hundred and fifty fry.

In the General aquarium, the offspring may be eaten by adult fish, if not timely transplant. Can be used to protect floating plants. After birth, the female immediately recovers its “figure” — for some time it still a little thick. This is because at one time she gives birth to all the fry, and continues to nurture a fertilized egg. Thanks to this feature, the female mollies are able to breed for six months without any participation of the male.

Fry mollies

We were talking about endurance, which is different mollienesia cylinder. Juveniles, unlike adults, are very sensitive to water parameters, especially for harmful impurities. It is recommended that frequent updating of the water. To posterity it is easier to adapt and are not afraid of eating (fry in the first days of life afraid to take it), place in a container of Java moss. The very first food for fry – ground feed, small ciliates.

If you have nowhere to resettle fry, use a five-liter jars with aged tap water. Banks are better put in a light place, but direct sunlight should not be there.

Compatibility

Mollies - active, but at the same time peaceful aquarium residents, they are very sociable, love to live in a neighborhood with my own kind or with other viviparous fish. Males sometimes fight, but not cause each other serious injuries. Some fish character, which may manifest itself in aggressive behavior. Contain mollienesia with any fish with similar temperament, which places the same requirements for the chemical composition of the water.

Avoid proximity with the fish, which can damage the fins of their peaceful neighbors. This primarily refers to the barb sumatrana. Bottom corydoras the catfish, platies, and others viviparous, some species of rainbow fish will be their best neighbors. Nice side by side with mollienesia tetras, cyprinids, other tetras that can live in such water parameters.

Diseases

May Hurt all the inhabitants of the aquarium. Is no exception and Molly Ballon. The most common cause of diseases of this fish is hypothermia, inappropriate water parameters, infection. The owner of an aquarium could very quickly notice the signs of incipient illness: the scales appear bumps or dots on skin, you can see the raised spots and ulcers.

Mollies, painted black, sometimes suffer from a disease called melanosis. This disease is caused due to increased pigmentation of the skin, which often causes swelling. For the prevention of many diseases should strictly follow the temperature regime in the tank, the purity of feed, soil and decorations. Injured fish must be removed from the General aquarium. They should be transplanted into quarantine in a different tank and feed balanced.