Balloon Leopard Molly 3.5cm

Balloon Leopard Molly

Mollies would quite possibly be one of the best entry-level fish for aquarists. After goldfish, they are one of the first tropical species that aquarists get into however mollies offer so many amazing traits aside from being just a beginner fish. Because of how long they have been in the aquarium hobby they also have a few different strains but the most popular would have to be the balloon leopard Molly. Mollies make a fantastic fish to add to a community aquarium or a species-only aquarium as they are filled with activity, and personality and look stunning.

The balloon leopard molly gets its name from its adorable, balloon-like body shape which is because of a genetic mutation that results in a compressed body. The Balloon Leopard Molly displays a pattern of dark spots reminiscent of a leopard's coat, set against a backdrop that can range from golden yellow to orange hues and will look amazing against plants or a dark background. The balloon Molly has at times received negative criticism from aquarium breeding purists who have the view that these short body fish are destined for a poor life. However, under the right, educated, and skilled care these fish can be a delight to keep. Their compact body can lead to their digestive system being easily prone to blockage and bloating, which is why they should be fed in minimal quantities with food they can easily process.

The balloon leopard molly can be expected to reach around 6 cm which makes them a great larger peaceful fish to add to community aquariums. Mollies are also great fish to add to planted aquariums as they make for surprisingly good hair algae eaters, they constantly peck at plant leaves and almost scrub plants and rocks clean with their mouth. One other amazing fact about these fish is they mollies can live in full fresh, brackish, and saltwater which just shows how hardy they are. The wild habitat of the Molly is widespread from South America to Mexico.

Tank Recommendations for your Balloon Leopard Molly

Being relatively easy to care for fish, the balloon Leopard molly can be kept in a fairly small aquarium with the minimum being 50 Litres. A sand or gravel substrate would be fine for these fish as well however because mollies like alkaline or high pH environments a crushed coral or aragonite sand would be optimal. They will also enjoy plants in the aquarium with great options being ferns, Anubias, pogostemon, and Vallesneria as these are large and denser growing plants and allow for great natural breeding grounds and places for fry to grow.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The balloon Leopard molly is a very peaceful aquarium fish that can get along with a wide range of tank mates both in fresh and saltwater conditions. They are great with a wide range of community aquarium fish however slower moving fish should be avoided as mollies may outcompete them.

Usually Compatible

Rainbow fish, mudskippers, platies, danios, loaches, and a lot of other common aquarium fish.

Sometimes Compatible

Smaller-sized fish such as neon or cardinal tetras, and bottom-dwelling fish such as Corydoras.

Rarely Compatible

Large and aggressive species which would prey on the mollies such as Oscars and very slow-moving fish like discus or Borneo suckers.

Feeding your Balloon Leopard Molly

The balloon Leopard molly is a very easy fish to feed. They will take a wide range of pellets, flakes, and frozen foods. Just like any fish though they should be fed a varied diet with a mix of different foods.

The ideal diet would be a good quality micro slow-sinking pellet or crushed flake, supplemented with frozen bloodworms or micro worms.