Re: balloon mollies (poelilia latippina) always die

[EMAIL PROTECTED] (obi) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> hello,
> 
> I've tried to keep balloon mollies but they always die after a few
> days, always same symptoms, they don't eat, they have a balance
> problem and they die a few hours later.
> Can anyone give me any information about the aquarium water
> conditions, temperature, food, ... what am I doing wrong?
> Thanks
> Obi

first and foremost lets make certain that the ammonia and nitrite
levels are below 0.5ppm.. that means that you will have to purchase a
test kit all new set ups will have ammonia and nitrite problems until
the filters have properly cycled. balloon mollies should always be
kept with alot of salt in the water always purchase a good quality
marine mix and maintain a specific gravity of about 1.010 for mollies.
they can be kept at full 1.021 specific gravity the same goes for sail
fin mollies.. special note here aside from platies and swordtails most
of the other fish will not appreciate that much salt.. in a mixed
community tank that is so popular with neophytes try using a
tablespoon of non iodized salt to five gallons..that much salt won't
bother any of the other fish except for possibly the brochis brochis
catfish and a few other south americans it will not bother tetras and
other livebeares