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Early on in my aquarium experience I had 3 mollies, all of which died within just a few days of bringing them home. Looking back, I realize where I went wrong then...too new an aquarium (which had not sufficiently cycled) and an aggressive tankmate (additional stress). My daughter is particularly fond of them and I may try them again in the future. All of the notes I have come across on them describe them as "sensitive", especially the black variety (which just happens to be my daughter's favorite). Can anyone with experience with them (both good and/or bad) elaborate as to what makes them so "sensitive" and what I can do to have more success? Thanks!

they arent incredibly hardy, so the lack of a full cycle probably killed them. but just to be sure, what was the aggressive tankmate?

IME i have found mollies to be a relatively easy fish to raise... your best bet is to make sure the tank is fully cycled before you add them, and don't overstock.. thats honestly the best advice i can give. you shouldn't have a problem as long as you acclimate them right.

*Chelle*
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I love the fishes cuz they're SOOO delicious...

I had black lyre tailed mollies when I first started my fish tank back about 2 years ago and found then to be quite hardy. As a matter of fact they were the fish along with the guppies to start the nitrogen cycle.
Now that I am reading that they are not so hardy I will deffinately not start another tank with them.

The aggressive tankmate was a male Betta. Again, in retrospect, not a great choice but based on some bad advice to a novice. The Betta was removed from the tank almost immediately after exhibiting his bad behavior. Of course, every fish seems to have it's own personality and mine was a bit more aggressive than I would have expected. None of the information that I have read comes right out and says that the mollies are a bad choice but "sensitive" and "not necessary the best choice for beginners." Vague information, I know, but is there anything above and beyond the obvious that I should be aware of?

cycled tank.... i dont think is 100% of the issue.

the reason why i wouldn't suggest mollies to beginners, is that mollies like brackish, and black mollies, even more so.

black mollies,personally i think need more salt than other mollies. also i have found that since black mollies are inbred so much, they become sicker, faster.

and just to add on the betta topic, that is why i also suggest that betttas are always best by themselves, and this is an example. it is just the risk just don't wiegh equal, and to me i still don't understand why people still say bettas are best in community tanks.