handyfish

I have a pair of Sailfin Mollys that are busy doing the deed as I type this. My wife asked me why the male was chasing the female around and what was protruding from behind her anal fin. I watched for a moment until the male swam up beside her and mounted her. It was just a flash but he did it several times. I knew what it was, but this was the first time I had ever witnessed it.

So, what is the gestation period for mollys? I have 2 Red Wag platy fry in the tank now. I didn't know I had a pregant one and I am sure there were more fry that have been eaten. I can't get the two remaining ones out without dismantling the decorations. So I want to get the female Molly segragated in time for the delivery.

zeebo

Hi handyfish,

It takes approx. 28 days.

Honestly, I don't count. I just estimate in terms of weeks.

I leave plenty of floating plants on the surface of the water. The fry will hide in them.

When I believe she will pop soon, I will look out for fry everyday. When they finally arrive, I fish them out and transfer them to my spare tank. U can also use a breeding net. DIY is cheap & good.

As she nears the time to give birth, the pregnant mother will become extremely bloated. Where her anal fin is, it will spot a white little thing. She will also get chased around a lot more.

FYI:
Pregnant or just fat?

handyfish

Hmmm...well, she is rather bloated. But I clearly see the male mounting her, so I don't think she is currently pregnant. Unless I don't know something.

handyfish

OK. I don't know something. I have baby mollys this morning. Little silver fry hiding in the rocks, and momma is not as bloated this morning. I can't catch them all without taking al my decorations out. But hopefully, the babys can make it by hiding in the rocks.

Fishies-for-me

Male livebearers don't care if the female is preg or not...they will continue to try to breed with them as much as they can...lol as you have found out...if you give them lots of hiding places a lot will make it....make sure you have the intake tube of the filter covered ( I use a sponge and cut a hole down the center and slide it over the tube. make sure it is an aquarium sponge)

zeebo

congrats handyfish!

KyWildFish

I just got my second batch of mollie fry this morning. Its best to net them and put them in a fry net if possible. I took out my decorations and spent a few hours this morning carefully netting them and getting them into the box. The fry from the first batch are huge compared to the new fry, but still big enough to be eaten by the other fish. I have a nurse tank that I will be adding a heater to tonight and moving the old fry to the nurse tank, the new fry to the display box (former home to a female betta) and hopefully the betta back to the box. Its a lot of work but if you want the majority of the fry to survive you need to get them in a safe box so they wont get eaten or out competed.

handyfish

Well, now the fry are big enough that they are venturing out from hiding. I have 6 molly and 5 Red Wag Platy fry that I can count. They are growing fast.

laur.laur.234

that is true they grow rapidly! I have 4 dalmation mollie fry, maybe on Friday we will let them out!?

handyfish

Ok. Now my tank is romper room. I have three different batches of Platy fry and two batches of Molly fry. I have more babies than adults! They won't stop breeding!!

KyWildFish

Take the males out or the females out. They wont stop till they die.

Jamie4891

Hi There,

I Am currently up to my eyes in Baby fry, I ahve 70+ baby guppys.
I have just bought a pregnant Balloon mollie (purposly bought) She is at exploding point, and can barley swim! I have placed her in the hatchery because she is being harrassed!

I'm new to pregnant Mollies (I'm currently working my way through breeding live barers) and have swords that I am working with at the mo.

But can any-one please tell me if seperating her untill she drops is the best thing to do?

Regards

KyWildFish

If she is getting harassed then it might be the best thing to do. How big is your tank? Live bearing fish can populate very quickly and you might get over populated fast. Once she has given birth take her out as she might eat the fry in the hatchery. Mollies are hungry fish.

handyfish

AUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!! I have a brand new batch of Platy Fry!

laur.laur.234

O my gosh!!! Good Luck!!!

LilMollieBreeder

WOW
I love my mollies and luckily or unluckily most of them die as they get bigger...
I have a pregnant cream sickle mollie who is due any day.. my mom bought her at the store yesterday and thought it was a male
also she dumped 8 guppies 4 females and 4 males... they are going to over load me....
any way good luck with your babies....
I haven't been on for about two month's hope you guys missed me a little!!
long post lol

komarsha

I have my first batch of babies and have no idea what to do with them. I'm new to the fish world. i caught as many as i could and have them in a breeder tank. i think there are about 10 in there. i can't just watch them eat the babies so I feel the need to save them. but what do you do with them after? i can't keep that many fish!