tara-newbie

Hi, hope someone can help me. My girlfriend brought me 2 new tropical fish today from my local aquatics store. 1 Male 1 Female. Both quite large, light orange fish. The male has little black dots and is a little lighter than the female.

I don't know what type of fish they are as i haven't seen them before. I do know they aren't Oranda fish. She said they were a type of platy fish but i don't think they are although they do have the same fins as the platy fish but are much more rounded both on top and bottom.

I appreciate there isn't much to go on here but as i'm new to this i don't know how to put pictures on yet. If anyone could help me i'd very much appreciate it as i'm not sure if the female is pregnant or it's just her shape.

Thanks in advance

Amanda

Hello & Welcome to Fishlore!
A pic would REALLY help...it really sounds like a Platy or Molly

craigsharp

Hi and welcome to Fishlore, how are you telling the sex ? this might help in identifying them..
Craig

eiginh

I'm really sorry but my mind is not so creative when it's guessing a picture of fish by words lol... but to help you out with pictures. On the bottom of the message area in the "Additional Options" box, there's a button you can click "Manage Attachments" , then another window will pop up and you can upload your pictures there, if that doesn't work resize your picture through picresize.com or use the program paint if you have windows OS. Good luck and I hope someone can identify them for you!

In your aquarium info it stays you don't know about the nitrogen cycle, this is very important in keeping fish. Read this http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm, it will help you out to maintaining your fish.

tara-newbie

Thank you for your replys and warm welcomes!!

I can tell the sex' as the male has a very large anal fin with 2 points coming from it. I hope i'm right on that.
Must admit this has become a hobby of mine and i am doing alot of research to try to keep and maintain the health of my fish. I've had 2 platy fish give birth and have done well for a beginner to keep the babies happy i think. I will have a look at the nitrogen cycle link you sent me, must admit i've only read the basics on starting an aquarium and getting it ready for fish. They seem to be doing fine but if i can improve on anything with help from people i will.

Sorry i'm babbling lol. I will get my cam and upload pics now. Thank you

Llama

Sounds like a swordtail to me. *waits for picture*

tara-newbie

39 - you can see the male and the female above him
42 - you can see how big the female is on the right
49 - this is a clear picture of the female

hope this works. didn't know how hard it was to take pictures of fish lol an how typical, i try to take pictures and they go to the back, i stop and they swim right to the front!!

Attached Images

	HNI_0039.JPG (46.4 KB, 79 views)
	HNI_0042.JPG (47.1 KB, 76 views)
	HNI_0048.JPG (48.7 KB, 77 views)

aquarist48

Hello Tara and Welcome to Fish Lore.

I believe the fish in question are Balloon Mollies. Let's see if anyone agrees. Beautiful fish!
Ken

tara-newbie

tytyty lol. I've just looked them up and i would say you are right. would you say if the female is pregnant or not as she's very very big

aquarist48

Hi Tara,
I'm not certain if she is pregnant or not. Hopefully someone with more experience with this species will respond before long. Please keep us posted and let us know if she has some fry. Thanks for sharing the photos!
Ken

tara-newbie

No, thank you for replying to my post and yes i will keep you posted

tara-newbie

YaY!!! She had fry!!! After observing her for a while and noticing she wasn't eating and wanted to be away from everyone, last night i put her in the birthing tank. Came to see her this morning to find about 20 fry in there. I've been so lucky with putting them in the birthing tank just in time! There are a few that haven't survived and a few unfertilized eggs but apart from that i'm a happy bunny

Bisc

Yes, these are definately Balloon Mollies. I never actually owned them myself, but I did debate getting a few in the past because they are excellent fish to put in a tank with goldfish. I decided to get a few Peppered Mollies instead, but I have no doubt those are Balloon Mollies.

Congrats on the babies! My Peppered Molly female had babies, but most didn't make it because I wasn't expecting them. She didn't look pregnant fat, but just kinda fat in general, so it was sad for me, but I'm soo happy to hear you have babies!

e_watson09

Those are for sure Balloon Mollies and they are also my FAVORITE fish I think they are absolutly hilarious looking and I just love them. When I start my 10 gallon back up I will probably have a tank full of them

Congrats on the babies