Pregnant Golden Mollies

[iDOWN]

Yesterday I purchased a Golden Mollie, a Red Velvet Swordtail, and a Mickey Mouse Platy from Petco. This evening I got home from work only to find a small fry swimming awkwardly around. I had no idea that my fish was pregnant. It certainly doesn't look pregnant. I'm positive it's my Mollie because she has a dead fry hanging from her. I'm not sure what to do. Should I purchase a breeding net? I know the Swordtail is aggressive and will probably eat most of the fry. Is it possible that she is giving premature birth? Will she continue giving birth? I've only seen the live one and the dead one that's still hanging there. She's not chubby, so I'm not sure what to do.

Thanks.

 

[Fishman1995]

It all depends on if you want to keep the fry or not. if you want to keep the fry buy a breeding box and hang it on the side of the tank and replenish the water until the fry is to big to be eaten. you choose. she may not have anymore or she may. you choose, keep fry or loose fry.

 

[iDOWN]

Well, I obviously want the fry to survive, it's just I'm not sure if she's already finished, or isn't far enough along the way to be giving birth.

 

[Fishman1995]

useually the premature births die and there wont be any others coming along. how long have these fry been born?

 

[OrangeCones]

Livebearer fish like your molly can have several batches of fry over several months, since they can store sperm.

The stress of moving from the pet store to a new aquarium could have induced premature labor. If no fry live from this batch, likely there will be more in a few weeks.

Is your tank cycled? What are the readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[Fishman1995]

Orange mollies are the only livebearers who can store sperm. My guppies, swords , and platies all have there fry at once and then they have another bunch in a month.

 

[ValRasbora]

Orange mollies are the only livebearers who can store sperm. My guppies, swords , and platies all have there fry at once and then they have another bunch in a month.

I disagree

 

[Fishman1995]

sorry for that last post lol i meant Mollies in general not orange mollies specificsally

 

[OrangeCones]

Orange mollies are the only livebearers who can store sperm. My guppies, swords , and platies all have there fry at once and then they have another bunch in a month.

Where do you get the information that only mollies can store sperm?

 

[Fishman1995]

hmmmm i read it online on several websites. maybe its wrong. ive also crossbred before as well so if yad like to know about that i can tell ya

 

[OrangeCones]

All livebearers can store sperm for future pregnancies, mollies, guppies, swordtails, platies included.

 

[Fishman1995]

ok my only male guppie left died about a month ago. your tellin me my fish could still ahve babys ?

 

[iDOWN]

Welp, I bought a net breeder. As far as I know, my mollie hasn't had anymore fry. I'm still confused as to why it only had two. Is birth a lengthy thing for mollies?

 

[OrangeCones]

Welp, I bought a net breeder. As far as I know, my mollie hasn't had anymore fry. I'm still confused as to why it only had two. Is birth a lengthy thing for mollies?

Not normally. But fish often eat fry if you do not seperate them. She may have had dozens but they were eaten by her or the other fish.

 

[iDOWN]

Well, I just bought her (and the other two) yesterday, so I'm pretty sure I would've noticed some extra little friends swimming around in there. I'll leave her in the breeder net for a week and see if anything else happens.

 

[OrangeCones]

ok my only male guppie left died about a month ago. your tellin me my fish could still ahve babys ?

Yes.

Those that breed livebearers for specific traits (certain colors, fin length, etc.) seperate the males from females and then must wait months before breeding the females to different males. Otherwise, they would not know if the resulting babies are from the 1st male or the 2nd male.

 

[Fishman1995]

thats true. the most guppie fry ive had to survive is 6. i cant never get to her in time to save the fry. as of right now i have 1 new fry about 2-3 weeks old and another juvinile whos about 3-4 weeks old and the mama whos almost at 1 1/2 months

 

[OrangeCones]

Well, I just bought her (and the other two) yesterday, so I'm pretty sure I would've noticed some extra little friends swimming around in there. I'll leave her in the breeder net for a week and see if anything else happens.

She may have started having them before you bought her too. I've seen them giving birth when someone at the store is chasing them around with a net to bag up for someone. I've had them give birth in the bag on the way home.

Does the breeder net you have seperate the babies from the mom? If not, she may have them and eat them while you are not looking.

 

[iDOWN]

No, but I read that the mother doesn't eat her babies right away (12 hours ish) do to hormones. So, if I notice she has fry I'll probably leave her there for only a couple more hours just in case anymore pop out, then remove her from the net.

 

[OrangeCones]

No, but I read that the mother doesn't eat her babies right away (12 hours ish) do to hormones.

Interesting. Where did you read this?