Mollies are prolific breeders which can really take a toll on the fish, especially the females, so it’s very important to give them the nutrients they need to recover from producing all those baby fish.
Quality protein, vitamins and minerals from animals and plants are key to maintaining their health.
To help you do this, this article will explain how to spot high-quality vs low-quality foods and go over some of my favorite foods for molly fish.
Key Takeaways
- First ingredients listed are the most important
- General fish meal = Low-quality
- A little wheat to help bind fish food together is okay
- Specific meal is acceptable
- Whole fish/krill/shrimp as the first ingredient = highest-quality
- Mollies need a variety of animal proteins and plant foods
- Spirulina is a great color enhancer for blues and greens
- Shrimp, Krill, and marigold are great color enhancers for reds, yellows and oranges
Foods which fit this for molly fish:
- Spirulina 20
- New Life Spectrum Optimum Flakes
- Omega One Super Color Flakes
- Omega One Color Mini Pellets
- Bug Bites Tropical
- New Life Spectrum Thera A
- Hikari Spirulina Brine Shrimp
- Omega One Tubifex Worms
- Northfin Veggie Formula
- Northfin Krill Pro
- New Life Spectrum Naturox Optimum All Purpose Flakes
- Omega One Freeze Dried Bloodworms
Low-Quality vs High-Quality Ingredients
Do not be fooled by marketing! There are major fish food brands out there that use low quality ingredients and fillers.
Low-quality fish foods use stuff like generic fish meal for their main ingredient, followed by a bunch of cheap fillers, like rice, soy or wheat.
Generic fish meal is made up primarily of the leftovers from fish processing plants. It’s made up of all the trash from fish carcases, like the bones, scales and guts.
It’s better than nothing, but just like a human eating nothing but hotdogs morning, noon and night, it’s less than ideal nutritionally.
High quality fish foods will have ingredients like:
- Whole fish
- Shrimp
- Krill
- Squid
- Spirulina
- Seaweed/kelp
These are all aquatic food sources that are easy for fish to digest.
It’s OK for there to be some non-aquatic ingredients in fish food, especially wheat germ for added fiber and pea powder for added protein. You just don’t want these to be the main ingredients.
Best Foods For Mollies Based On Ingredient Quality
Zoo Med Spirulina 20 Flake Fish Food
Spirulina 20 has always been one of the foods that I rotate around for my various aquariums and mollies will love these as a treat. It is a good mix between animal based ingredients and large amounts of spirulina, which is packed with all sorts of different nutrients.
However, you should only feed this once or twice a week. The spirulina is rich in plant proteins, vitamins and minerals that can help improve both color and your angelfish’s overall health.
I’m not that crazy about the fact that it contains soy flour and wheat flour, as they’re probably used as binding agents.
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Salmon Fish Meal, Spirulina Algae Meal, Soy Flour, Wheat Flour, Corn Starch, Dried Krill Meal, Shrimp Meal, Plankton Meal, Lecithin, Vegetable Oil, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (stabilized Vitamin C)
Zoo Med Spirulina 20 Flake Fish Food, 4-Ounce
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Omega One Super Color Flakes
Omega One is the best fish food company in the business, as far as I’m concerned. Not only do they provide high quality protein, but they also use a wide variety of protein sources.
These flakes have always been a favorite in my fish room. They’re made up of great protein sources, like salmon, whole herring and whole shrimp. Mixed with pea protein, kelp and color enhancing marigold extract.
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Salmon, Whole Herring, Wheat Flour, Whole Shrimp, Pea Protein, Wheat Gluten, Herring Oil, Kelp, Mixed Tocopherols, Carmine, Annatto Extract, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Marigold Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Inositol, Astaxanthin, Canthaxanthin, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement
Omega One Super Color Flakes 5.3 oz
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Omega One Color Mini Sinking Pellets
Another excellent product from Omega, these mini sinking pellets are made up of quality, protein, sources, like salmon, whole herring and whole shrimp, these sinking pellets, also contain marigold to help enhance your mollies colors.
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Salmon, Whole Herring, Wheat Germ, Wheat Flour, Whole Shrimp, Pea Protein, Rice Bran, Wheat Gluten, Herring Oil, Kelp, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols, Marigold Extract, Niacin, Inositol, Astaxanthin, Canthaxanthin, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement
Omega One Color Mini Pellets, Sinking, 3.5 oz
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Fish Food, Small Granules
Fluval Bug Bites Are made up, primarily of dried black soldier, fly larvae, an excellent protein source that mimics the insectivore diet of many fish, including mollies.
It doesn’t have a large variety of protein sources or plant-based ingredients, so I recommend including this as an occasional treat for your mollies.
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Black Soldier Fly Larvae, Salmon, Fish Protein Concentrate, Green Peas, Potato, Wheat, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Dl-Methionine, Lecithin, Choline Chloride, L-Lysine, Vitamin E Supplement, Biotin, Niacin, Calcium L-Ascorbyl-2-Monophosphate, Marigold Extract, Zinc Oxide, Manganous Oxide, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract, Riboflavin, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Inositol, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D3 Supplement
Fluval Bug Bites Tropical Fish Food, Small Granules for Small to Medium Sized Fish, 1.6 oz., A6577
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
New Life Spectrum Thera A Small
These sinking pellets, combine krill, squid, a medley of seaweeds, with spirulina and marigold. This is a color enhancing, balanced diet you can feed daily.
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Krill (Euphasia superba), Squid (Dosidicus gigas), Whole Wheat Flour, Fish (Brevoortia tyrannus), Garlic, Fish Oil, Seaweed (Ulva lactuca, Undaria pinnatafida, Eucheuma cottonii, Eucheuma spinosum, Chondrus crispus), Kelp, Green Algae (Chlorella pyrendoidosa), Ginger, Astaxanthin, Spirulina, Marigold, Bentonite Clay, Sea Salt, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Folic Acid, Biotin,Thiamine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride,Calcium Pantothenate, L-Ascorbyl-2 Polyphosphate (Vitamin C), Choline Chloride, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Cobalt Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Tocopherols (a preservative)
New Life Spectrum Thera A Small 60g (Naturox Series)
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Hikari Bio-Pure Freeze Dried Spirulina Brine Shrimp Cubes
These cubes of brine shrimp and spirulina make a great supplement or treat for molly fish. There are not enough varied ingredients for it to be a staple diet but this is a great protein and vitamin rich add-on that most fish really like.
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Freeze Dried Brine Shrimp, Spirulina
Hikari Bio-Pure Freeze Dried Spirulina Brine Shrimp Cubes for Pets, 0.42-Ounce
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Omega One Freeze Dried Tubifex Worms
Freeze-dried tubifex worms are another protein packed treat that many fish really like. The individual worms are small, making this food better suited to nano fish like mollies.
Again, this should be used as a treat and not a staple daily feeder.
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Freeze Dried Tubifex Worms
Omega One Freeze Dried Tubifex Worms, 0.85 oz
Last update on 2025-01-22 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Northfin Fish Food Veggie Formula Slow Sinking Pellets 1mm
I love Northfin, they consistantly produce high-quality foods.
This veggie formula is awesome addition to your feeding schedule for molly fish. Organic kelp and whole krill provide great nutrition that is easily digestible. This is a slow sinking pellet.
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Organic Kelp (Laminariales), Whole Antarctic Krill Meal (Euphausia Superba), High DHA Omega-3 Whole Herring Meal, Whole Sardine Meal, Wheat Flour, Spirulina, Garlic (Allium Sativum), Astaxanthin, Montmorillonite Clay, Vitamin A Acetate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Cholecalciferol, Alpha-tocopherol Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Thiamine, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Cobalt Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Selenium, Zinc, Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
Northfin Fish Food Veggie Formula Slow Sinking Pellets (1mm 250g)
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Northfin Fish Food Krill Formula Slow Sinking Pellets
These slow, sinking pellets are primarily sourced from whole krill, kelp, and spirulina.
85% of this formula from Northfin is made of whole krill, so I totally forgive them that the next ingredient listed is wheat flour (used as binding agent). Krill gives this food a very strong odor that drives fish absolutely wild, which means it shouldn’t be too difficult to get your angelfish switched over to this food.
There’s only one protein source in this formula, so you’ll need to add on other foods in order to provide more variety.
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Whole Antarctic Krill Meal (Euphausia Superba), Wheat flour, Organic Kelp (Laminariales), Garlic (Allium Sativum), Spirulina (Dietary Supplement), Astaxanthin, Montmorillonite Clay, Vitamin A Acetate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Cholecalciferol, Alpha-tocopherol Acetate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Thiamine, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Cobalt Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Selenium, Zinc, Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
Northfin Fish Food Krill Formula Slow Sinking Pellets (2mm 80g)
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
New Life Spectrum Naturox Optimum All Purpose Flakes
These flakes are made from Protein sources, like krill, squid and whole fish, as well as great plant-based foods like a mix of seaweeds, kelp, spirulina, marigold and algae.
This is an excellent staple diet for molly fish. The rich proteins and vitamins will help their bodies recover from constant breeding.
Click For Full Ingredients
Krill (Euphasia superba), Squid (Dosidicus gigas), Whole Wheat Flour, Fish (Brevoortia tyrannus), Garlic, Fish Oil, Seaweed (Ulva latuca, Undaria pinnatafida, Euchema cottonii, Euchema spinosum, Chondrus crispus), Green Algae (Chlorella pyrendoidosa), Kelp, Ginger, Astaxanthin, Spirulina, Marigold, Bentonite Clay, Sea Salt, Vitamin A Acetate,Vitamin D Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement,Vitamin B12 Supplement, Niacin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride,Calcium Pantothenate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Vitamin C), Choline Chloride, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Cobalt Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Tocopherols (a preservative)
New Life Spectrum Naturox Optimum All Purpose Flakes 90g Fish Food
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Omega One Freeze Dried Bloodworms
Freeze dried bloodworms are a great source of extra protein. You wouldn’t want to make this your mollies only food, but it makes a great supplement or treat.
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Freeze Dried Bloodworms
Omega One Freeze Dried Blood Worms, 0.96 oz
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
A Varied Diet is Best
I really recommend feeding your fish more than one kind of food throughout the week.
Giving fish a diet made up of varied ingredients helps to ensure that they get all of the different nutrients their bodies need. Look for whole fish, shrimp and/or krill. Having plant-based ingredients thrown in, like seaweed or spirulina, is always a bonus. Don’t be tricked by marketing. Check the first ingredients.
