About feeding a molly
Mollies are livebearers with a strong herbivorous streak — they graze algae and need more plant matter than typical community fish.
How much should a molly eat?
Aquatic feeding is measured as a share of body weight per day, adjusted to the two-minute rule. The chart below uses about 1.2% of body weight daily.
| Body weight | Food per day (~1.2% of body weight) |
|---|---|
| 0 g | 0.01 g/day |
| 1 g | 0.02 g/day |
| 2 g | 0.02 g/day |
| 3 g | 0.03 g/day |
| 4 g | 0.04 g/day |
| 4 g | 0.05 g/day |
| 5 g | 0.06 g/day |
What to feed
Mollies do well on vegetable-based flakes or pellets, algae, and blanched vegetables, with some protein foods for variety.
How often to feed
Feed small amounts once or twice a day, letting them graze algae between meals.
Frequently asked questions
What do mollies eat?
Mollies are largely herbivorous — feed vegetable-based flakes or pellets and let them graze algae, with occasional protein foods. A too-meaty diet can cause digestive issues.
How much should I feed my fish?
Only what they finish in about two minutes, once or twice a day — usually a pinch. As a rule of thumb, most community fish eat around 1-1.5% of body weight daily; large slow fish like goldfish need less.
How often should I feed aquarium fish?
Once or twice a day for most species, with one fasting day per week. Fry and very active small fish need more frequent small feedings.