Best Fish Food for Mollies

Mollies are one of the most popular fish species among pet fish owners. There are dozens of different kinds of mollies, all having different colors. Mollies are actually really easy to care for.

What do mollies eat? Due to their omnivorous nature, they can eat both plants and meat and are not picky eaters. With that being said, you really need to be careful about their feeding habits, proper feeding schedule, and the quality of their diet.

Food for Molly Fish? Flakes? (Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjh4LgszLxA   Recommended food: Omega One Freshwater Flakes 


It is hard to figure out what are the best food products for mollies if you have never owned a molly before. This article will help you find the best fish food for your mollies and a lot more regarding their feeding habits and how to take care of them.

The top food picks for mollies include

  1. Omega One Brine Shrimps
  2. Freeze-dried worms
  3. Omega One Flakes
  4. Daphnia
  5. Bloodworms
  6. S&C Aquatics Floating Mix
  7. Omega One Krill
  8. API Tropical Flakes
  9. Tetra Pro Algae

Diet of the Molly Fish

Mollies are omnivorous in nature. They like proteins from animals such as small insects, insect larvae, small crustaceans and even small fish; plus they also feed on vegetables and plants from time to time.

The major part of the diet of mollies in the wild is derived from plants, but they also munch on meat if they feel like it. Mollies devour a lot of algae, that is why they are ideal pets if you are not really interested in scrapping the algae out of your fish tank again and again.

Mollies in the aquarium go to town on algae covered decorations and walls of the fish tank. The mollies do an amazing job in cleaning the fish tank and making the aquarium nice looking, easier to maintain and better oxygenated.

Mollies do not just feed on algae, they eat vegetables too. They may be slightly picky eaters in the fish tank, so you might have to choose and try out different foods before you find the perfect match

Best foods for molly fish

This article will help you find the best foods for your molly fish. Read the reviews below in order to get a better understanding of the perfect fish food for your molly.

This article might also contain Amazon affiliate links. You can click on any of those links to redirect yourself to Amazon where you can purchase these products from the comfort of your home.

The Omega One Brine Shrimps

The Omega One Brine Shrimps are extremely rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins. The shrimps are packed with the proteins and nutrients your molly needs to be healthy and grow. This product makes a good meal supplement and an occasional treat.

The best thing about these shrimps is that they are dried and freezed; which decreases the chances of them carrying any bacteria or parasite which are mostly found in live food. In simpler terms, they are a safer bet than live food.

Brine shrimp contains many pigments which help your molly maintain its beautiful colors. If you want your fish to have an excellent immune system and a good digestive system, then these brine shrimps are definitely the way to go.

Daphnia

Daphnia are actually small crustaceans and they are a very tasty treat for your pet mollies. They are also freeze-dried so they are more likely to be free from pesticides and bacteria that can harm your molly.

Daphnia is really rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins and nutrients; it basically has everything that is required by your molly to stay healthy and grow. The amazing thing about Daphnia is that you can feed it to both freshwater and saltwater creatures.

Omega One Freshwater Flakes

This product is amazing for omnivorous tropical fish, hence they are a perfect match for mollies. They are specifically designed in order to meet the nutritional requirements of your molly fish. The Omega One Freshwater flakes also contain plant matter which means that they are rich in nutrients and vitamins.

They also have a sufficient amount of meat proteins. This all means that your molly will have all its diet needs fulfilled without a doubt.

These flakes do not sink quickly, they float for a while and then begin to sink. This makes it very easy for mollies to devour them. The flakes are packed with beta-carotene which is a substance that helps your molly maintain its beautiful and rich colors.

Another great thing about the Omega One Freshwater Flakes is that it has a very low amount of ash, so it helps to keep your fish tank clean rather than polluting it like other foods. The Omega 6 fatty acid present in the flakes helps your molly’s digestion and keeps its immune system strong.

Bloodworms

Bloodworms serve as a nice occasional snack for mollies as they get tired of the same kind of food on a daily basis. Just like the brine shrimp mentioned above, these bloodworms are also freeze-dried. Hence the chances of them carrying any parasites or bacteria are fairly low. This makes them safe for your mollies to consume.

The blood worms are rich in minerals, vitamins, and protein. Although they do not contain a lot of plant matter, the amount of protein in them is amazing.

In terms of strong immune system, great digestion, and coloration, these blood worms are certainly a prime feeding choice for your pet fish.

S&C Aquatics Floating Mix

If keeping your mollies healthy and providing them with the nutrition they need is your goal, then this product is perfect for you. The food contains minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that boost energy and the health of your molly.

Packing brine shrimp, deep sea fish oil, Spirulina, rose algae as well as crude fat, protein, and fiber; this product offers an advanced meal that will definitely cater the various needs of your molly leading to better health, superior growth, and a more vibrant color.

The product is full of minerals and vitamins that help your molly maintain its bright colors as well as keep them healthy. The pellets float so it is easy to feed and it also ensures that the water in your fish tank stays clean.

Omega One krill

The Omega One krill are very similar to the brine shrimp that was discussed earlier. The only main difference between the two is that they both have different animals, so they most probably taste different than shrimp.

They are meaty, so they make a great occasional treat and even meat supplements. They contain a lot of minerals, vitamins, and nutrients but their major portion is pure crude protein. This ensures that your molly has more than the required amount of proteins to help them grow and be healthy.

Just like the bloodworms and brine shrimp discussed earlier, these krill are also freeze-dried making them unlikely carriers of parasites and bacteria that might harm your fish.

So, it can be assumed that they are safe for your molly to consume. Krill are a major source of calcium; which means they are amazing for the healthy growth of fins, scales, teeth, bones, and gill covers. All in all, they are a perfect snack for your mollies.

API Tropical Flakes

This product is very similar to the Omega One Freshwater Flakes. They are also known to sink slowly and can be easily eaten by your mollies. This is one of the best foods that can be fed regularly to your mollies unlike the bloodworms, krill, and the brine shrimp which need to be fed sparingly.

The API Tropical flakes should be fed twice a day to your mollies. Ingredients like beet pulp and Spirulina have been used in making these flakes to help your mollies maintain their bright and colorful appearance.

The best thing about these API Tropical Flakes is that they have been made to reduce the productions of nitrite and ammonia, therefore they not just provide nutrients to your molly but they also help in keeping your fish tank water clean and hygienic.

Tetra Pro Algae

What we eat is what we are, and this is true when it comes to fish as well. Another product that you should definitely give a go if you are looking for high-quality food for your molly is Pro Algae pack by Tetra. It is designed to meet the various nutritious requirements for tropical freshwater fish.

This product is not only amazing for your mollies, but if you have barbs, gouramis or even Lake Malawai cichlids this product will definitely do the trick.

This delicious food item does wonders for the digestive system of mollies. The algae crisps are much more nutritious than flakes. The best aspect of this product is that it is fairly easy to feed and the crisp format of the crisps leads to minimal water pollution and waste.

Pro Algae will help your fish get healthy, provide it with ample energy, foster growth, and aid the fish in retaining its beautiful color all the while keeping the water in your tank crystal clear.

Which vegetables do mollies eat?

In the wild, the exposure of mollies to vegetables is closer to zero as there are not many vegetables in the wild. However, at home, you can go ahead and feed them different kinds of vegetables in order to cater to their nutritional needs and they will absolutely love them.

The only thing that should keep in mind is that raw vegetables are rather tough and fibrous so boiling them in order to make them soft is a good call. Just be very careful to not overcook them as they might turn into absolute mush.

These are some of the vegetables that mollies like to eat:

  • Bok Choy
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Green bell peppers
  • Zucchini
  • Cucumbers
  • Chicory
  • Dock
  • Dandelion greens

Spinach

Spinach is another very good vegetable to try out. Using fresh organic spinach is preferred. You can find that at any of your local supermarkets. The reason you want the spinach to be organic is that they would be free from fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals.

You should not freeze the spinach as freezing is known to eliminate the vitamins present in the vegetable. The easy thing to do is just to boil the spinach so that it becomes soft but not mushy.

Proceed by giving your molly small pieces of the boiled spinach. Spinach is full of vitamins, minerals, and protein which will help your molly to stay well and healthy as well as grow big and strong. This is definitely one of the best plant-based foods to feed your pet fish hands down.

Homemade plant-based molly fish food

Things you will need:

  • Cucumber
  • Frozen peas
  • Oats
  • Unflavored gelatin
  • Spinach

What to do?

The first thing you should do is blanch all the vegetables and then puree them. After that, add the oats in a separate bowl and mix it with gelatin and hot water. Add the gelatin mixture slowly to the vegetables. Store the food in your fridge

Homemade meat-based molly fish food

Things you will need:

  • Shrimp
  • Whitefish
  • Unflavored gelatin
  • Any vegetables you have
  • Beef heart

What to do?

Boil the vegetables, but they should not get mushy. Mix the shrimp, white fish and the beef heart together in a separate bowl. Add the meat mixture into a bowl with gelatin and hot water.

Combine all the ingredients and then store it in the freezer. In order to feed your fish easily, store the food in an ice tray.

How to feed Mollies to get them breeding?

If you want to create breeding conditions for molly fish, then feed them live or frozen foods for a treat. This does not seem much, but in time it will result in huge differences and most likely will give out better results.

Some of the best-frozen foods for mollies include shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia and brine. A lack of fresh food in the diet of mollies makes them sexually inactive.

The feeding schedules of mollies

You should have a rather regular schedule when it comes to feeding your pet fish. Like all the fish out there, mollies will keep on eating and overeating which can make them sick.

In regards to the amount of food that you should feed your molly, the best thing to do is not feed them more than they can devour in five minutes. If you end up feeding more than that, you might be at the risk of overfeeding which can cause reasonably big problems for your fish.

Feeding your molly twice a day is the safest bet and twelve-hour intervals will do the trick. Feeding your mollies at 8 am and then again at 8 pm or anything close to this cycle is good enough.

The thing you should remember is that mollies are messy, hungry and, voracious fish, so they will keep on eating until you stop feeding them. So you have to be careful regarding how much food you are giving them and how you feed them.

The main task in feeding mollies is to assess if they can handle what you feed them and if they are able to eat it before it falls at the bottom of the fish tank. This is a very big issue as the leftover food can easily contaminate the water, plus decaying food increases the nitrate levels which is very harmful to your molly. It can even prove to be fatal.

Related questions

Why isn’t my molly eating? The loss in appetite in mollies or any other fish is mostly because they are under stress or have a disease. Examine your fish for signs of any illness. If you are unsure, take your fish to the vet.

Another thing you should do is check if the conditions of the fish tank are healthy. Test the water for ammonia and nitrates.

How do I feed my mollies cucumbers? Cut the cucumber into small slices so that your molly does not choke on them. Do make sure that the cucumber is organic and clean.

Can mollies eat chopped up pieces of lettuce? They can but it’s better if you do not feed them chunky food. Stick to squishier food like squash, peas and cucumbers.

How do I feed a group of mollies, when the others that have already eaten are stealing the food? The best thing to do is to spread the food so that every fish gets a chance to eat.

Can I feed my mollies small earthworms? Yes, you can but do make sure that the earthworms do not contain any pesticides or artificial fertilizers.

Can I feed them pieces of bread? No, you cannot. Bread contains yeast which causes problems in warm water.

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Nadine Oraby

My name is Nadine; I am a passionate writer and a pet lover. People usually call me by the nickname “Joy” because they think that I am a positive and joyful person who is a child at heart. My love for animals triggered me to create this blog. Articles are written by vets, pet experts, and me. Thanks for visiting. Your friend, Nadine!

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