Starting new-ish tank, need help with species!

[Deitta]

OK, here's the deal. I have a 29gal low-light planted tank. I am down to only 1 adult baloon molly and it is a he. I do have some juveniles who are approx 6 months old. I had hoped to breed the mollies but have since realized that they don't live very long (especially after being shipped to AK)!
I am thinking of getting some angels. Mostly for a new breed and visual interest. I understand that they like to snack on molly fry. So I asked my LFS if balloon mollies will mate with other types of mollies, say a lyre tail (in stock at LFS now) and he said yes. :? Has anyone else mated different types of mollies?
Also, again for visual interest, I was wondering if I could put either (or both) of my gourami in this same tank? My opaline is 2" and my dwarf is 1". How will the neon tetras work with this? It was also suggested in a book to have some cories for bottom feeders.
I do not want to overstock, and I do have a 6gal to put anyone who won't work in the 29gal. I am VERY vigilant about water changes and filter maintenance, so I can afford to push the limits a little.

 

[PK Tester]

Since when don't Mollies live that long? I have read 1 to 3 years? Seems like somthing in your water might be killing them. I'm a little confused about what you want to put in this new tank. Maybe someone else can help you there lol.

 

[astroguy]

First off- Mollies generally prefer some salt in the water. This may be a problem if you decide to go for brackish since many fishes you quote above are not specifically adequate for salted water (e.g., corys).

Make sure you add your other fishes 1-2 per week so that you do not make a full cycle again.

 

[grimlock3000]

Mollies live plenty long enough. The first thing you want to do is try and figure out why they died. Getting shipped to AK has nothing to do with it.

Angels are nice fish, but you can not have many in a tank. A male and female would be good in that tank and that is it. Any more than two and they would have trouble with territories.

 

[grimlock3000]

"I had hoped to breed the mollies but have since realized that they don't live very long"

"I am VERY vigilant about water changes and filter maintenance, so I can afford to push the limits a little."

To clarify, wanting to "push the limits" is a bad idea when you already had trouble keeping Mollies alive.

 

[Deitta]

The balloon mollies that I got were full adults (prob 1 year old already or older) so a good portion of their time was already gone. I did not know near as much 8 months ago as I do now. So I put them through quite a bit of stress in the beginning and prob took more time off them. Personally I was hoping for fish that would last closer to 5 years or more rather than just a couple of years. I had been told by LFS people that by the time the fish get shipped up here, they undergo more than 2,000 more miles of stress than in the Lower 49. I do add small amounts of salt to the tank say 3 tablespoons for a 12 gal change, and I do this around once a week on average. So a 30% water change each week and vaccuuming the gravel each time. I thought I was doing an ok job, especially these last 3 months, because they were still breeding like mad, the fry were growing a good reates and there were no unexplained deaths or illnesses for a really long time! Then all 3 females became floaters within a week but every one else was fine, even the fry! In another question I was told they did not live that long.

But in the interest of learning, can you figure what happened? None of the levels were in dangerous or unusual levels at the time of the deaths. And as I said, every one else was just peachy. With no other deaths in the 10 days since.

Using the multi-test strips my natural water levals are as follows: ph 7.2-7.4 kh 100 and hardness is around 150 ppm. I have well water so I don't have to worry about city chemicals. The tank is not near any chemical areas (like the kitchen), so no chance of cross contamination.And now I have a mostly empty tank and want something that doesn't die of old age before I can name it! Help the poor girl in the corner crying!

 

[PK Tester]

Sounds a lot like it could have been an internal infection or parasite...you normally still see signs...you didn't happen to see a read streak on their bodies did you? It is true that fish shipped will not live nearly as long as fish born in a tank. Your fry should live MUCH longer...I have read many places its possible for guppies to live 1 - 3 years...Its hard to find fish that will live a huge amount of time. As I said before I do not know much about species but I know for a fact your fry will live longer if there was no cause of the other fishes deaths. Angels are very hard to keep a require a lot of work. Your PH is too high for them as it is. They could live in it possibly...atleast thats what I have heard from reading this forum. I know the prefer a PH of 6.5 so its possible you are shortening their life span...so don't expect those to live the longest time. Angels are very hard to keep as I stated before and are not recomended for new starts. I'd say get some mollies to live for quite some time and go from there.

I hope that helped...

 

[Deitta]

Do you know if Balloon Mollies will breed with other mollies? I think the lyretail is one of the genetic forebearers of the balloon strain. I wouldn't mind keeping on with the molly-livebearing types. And now I guess that I just wouldn't get to know the purchased adults as well.
To answere your question, there were no signs of trouble. Fine and giving birth in the morning, dead and floating by night! :x
I will give up on the idea of angels, otherwise I would be adding chemicals to the water all of the time and that would cost alot and add to the water density. I like only having to worry that the incomming change water is the right temp, it makes it easier to keep the water changes up.