F1indy2000

I have a male(Chester) and a female(Molley) mollies and have had them for over a month. The two of them enjoy their company together and I have noticed my female(Molley) appears to be a bit chunky looking since I first got them. Is she pregnant? If so how long before she has frys? Is there an easy way to tell? I also have a female swordtail that could be pregnant and that i have read that they get little black dots on their sides that becomes one big dot and thats an easy way to tell if they are pregnant, but Molley the mollie is all black i can't tell besides her weight gain. Thanks

COBettaCouple

we've only had platys but we'd try to ID if she's pregnant if you have pics you could post?

armadillo

Hi F1indy2000

If she is pregnant, do you know what to do with the fry in case it survives? (most molly parents will eat their fry if you don't isolate them).

You can tell that a female is pregnant because:
- she gains weight. towards teh end of the pregnancy (about 4 wks), she'll look boxy in shape
- some females show their gravid spot when they're pregnant. it's a dark spot in their belly (basically, the fry) that will move more and more toward her cloaca as she approaches due date
- pregnant females can become temporarily more aggressive
- females who are about to pop may isolate themselves from the other fish, stop eating, find a secluded spot on the substrate and stay there for a couple of days before giving birth

Once she has given birth, I'd put liquid vitamins in the water as it can take a lot out of a female.

If they do survive, it's important not to let them stay in the same tank as their parents beyond their 3rd month, or there is a small risk of inbreeding with their parents. I suggest you already survey your local fish stores to see whether some will take them off you for store credit in case they do survive.

Also, I would not keep 1 male and 1 female. If things are still OK, then good, but in most cases, the male will sexually harass the female to death. So one male needs 3 to 4 females (provided your tank can take this much fish).