Freshwater fish to salt...

[soundwave]

OK, I had success with these guys (Mollies) and have had them happy and alive for over a week.

From what I understand, Mollies, Platies and Swordtails all come from the same type of habitat in the wild. Does anyone know of anyone who has successfully converted either Platies or Swordtails to saltwater? I would love to have a small school of either one.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s282/soundwave2thousand/IMAG0080.jpg

[LegoZ]

nice.

[ylchik]

so very cool!

[Funky187]

i remember that Smorrow bought about 25 buck worth of mollies and swords and platies to put in his 300 gal tank. they were acting great until his triggers ate them!

[soundwave]

I won't be having any triggers.

He was able to successfully add the platies and swords though. Good to know.

[RobynT]

So why would you prefer those types of fish over saltwater fish.......if they are going in a SW tank? It can't be all about cost? If I had a small tank, I'd want something that was enjoyable to watch, like a shrimp/goby combo.

[7Hogwarts]

I gotta agree with Robyn on this one. But, to each his own.

[soundwave]

Here's the thing. I like Chromis but they are often mean to each other to the point of picking off one-another. I also like threadfin cardinals but they are soooo hard to find. I want a schooling fish and really like the look of the blue mickeymouse platys.

[soundwave]

I guess color is really the concern. I will have a clown, a green clown goby and a yellow assessor. I want blue fish, dangit.

[pisap]

Do you have a process on doing this? Is the water brackish? It's kinda cool to have a bunch of colorful schooling fish....plus cheap too.

[ReefnRod]

a peacefull saltwater schooling fish would be the firefish. they are colorfull and very peacefull.

[RobynT]

I tried to have black mollies once (in my sump)and was not successful. Although some have had success, has it been long term? I cannot imagine that taking a fish and making it adapt to a environment that is not "natural" would have it affects on the length of it's life.
JMO

[Funky187]

it is natural for mollies and platies to go from all fresh to all salt in one day, but i agree it is usually not long term. Josh had luck with one for several months. Thread fins are not impossible to find, i have seen them on lists many times before.

[blueroof]

I guess I don't understand the appeal of keeping mollies in an expensive reef setup, with all of the coloful, exotic, marine fish to choose from. What ever makes you happy, good luck.

[soundwave]

Those mollies are only in the tank for cycling purposes. I need a steady ammonia supply. If I can get 3 of the threadfin cardinals, that is probably the direction I will go. But, again, I have never seen them in person.

[kelly]

I converted molly's for a few months, in hopes i could feed the fry to my seahorses as a treat. Worked out fine. But then talked to a few folks, and read a few articles that say you "can" do it, but it significantly decreases their life.

[Funky187]

when i was up at shed i saw the threadfins in person, and they are not that pretty. just sliver, you dont see the yellow bands or any hints of blue. they do stay schooling really well though. i plan on getting some of the red spotted cardinals for my tank. in a way they remind me of neon tetras and they school really well.