Are My Balloon Mollies Going To Give Birth Soon?

Hey everyone!

I just recently joined Fishlore, glad to be part of the online community. Just to familiarize you guys with who I am and what I'm rocking, so maybe you pros could give me some help lol (which I greatly appreciate btw thank you). I've been keeping fish for around a year now. My dad was a big hobbyist back in the day with a massive 200 gallon long, which was 15 years ago. I recently decided to pick up the hobby as well, but then quickly realized how expensive everything was. Spent a few weeks on KijijI and Craigslist and was able to find a 50 gallon long for free, and I have been using it ever since. I currently have 3 F guppies and 1M guppy with maybe 6 fry. 8 neon tetras, 4 corys, 4 balloon . 1 HOB filter and a sponge filter.

For about 4 months to date, I've been keeping balloon mollies (didn't know they were genetically bred until recently. My bad). Oddly enough, for my 4 months having them, I don't think I've been able to have any fry from them and it's been honestly a little frustrating. I have 3 females (a white, black, and orange) and 1 male. I was able to find 2 little black fry in the tank recently and managed to put them into a fry trap for the time being, but I am pretty sure those fry belong to my guppies. I wouldn't be surprised if they become sterile somehow through selective breeding but I've been sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting to see some little balloons. Could any of you guys possibly help me estimate when they're about to let the fry lose? I currently have 1 swimming in the tank, and the other 2 in a breeder box because the male kept following and harassing them. The 2 in the breeder box are surprisingly calm. I've spent a lot of time researching (when I honestly should have been studying for my Finals) about signs and behaviors that I should keep an eye out for. The gavid spot has been a no-go (although, I have read online that balloon mollies don't have gavid spots??). The white and black one in the breeder box currently have been isolating themselves, hanging in the jungle of fake plants beside the rock. The orange one has recently been hanging out by the filter looking down... But as soon as I come near the tank she swims towards me probably looking for some food (not really sure what to make of it).

SORRY FOR THE LONG MONOLOGUE. If you actually managed to read through all of that I admire you. I added some photos below to help out visualize what I'm talking about.

 

Balloon Mollys are really very tricky to identify whether they are pregnant or not.
From the picture I guess the orange one is surely pregnant. She hung around the heater which is a definite sign of a pregnant Molly.
But not sure of the White and the Black one.

 

Balloon Mollys are really very tricky to identify whether they are pregnant or not.
From the picture I guess the orange one is surely pregnant. She hung around the heater which is a definite sign of a pregnant Molly.
But not sure of the White and the Black one.

Thank you for the input protim. I guess there is no real way with mollies other than behaviour.

 

No problem. Anytime !
When the birth of the fry is near, mother Molly will square off a bit. They sometimes hang on the side of a filter, heater. Also they tends to hide from other fish and breath heavily.

 

I wouldn't put the fish into the breeder box, you have 3 females to the one male so the harassing should be spread through the 3. You have plenty of hiding spaces for the fry. The stress of being in the box may cause the fish to abort. I think with your current stock, just leaving all of them in there tanks and making sure they're healthy will give you fry.

 

I wouldn't put the fish into the breeder box, you have 3 females to the one male so the harassing should be spread through the 3. You have plenty of hiding spaces for the fry. The stress of being in the box may cause the fish to abort. I think with your current stock, just leaving all of them in there tanks and making sure they're healthy will give you fry.

Thanks KO for the tip. It's just that I've been letting them free in the tank for months now and yet nothing so I thought maybe they were being eaten so I thought I'd do something different. Do you think I should let them free swimming for a bit longer?

 

All Mollys immune system gets detoriate if they feel stress. It will be best to let them swim in the main tank.

 

Thanks KO for the tip. It's just that I've been letting them free in the tank for months now and yet nothing so I thought maybe they were being eaten so I thought I'd do something different. Do you think I should let them free swimming for a bit longer?

You will always have survivors. You have a good amount of hiding so if babies are being made, you will see them. And more than likely many will grow to size.