How do you raise Molly fry?

So I am at a crossroads, I have absolutely no experience with this whatsoever. I bought ghost shrimp weeks ago, I have two that are carrying eggs and I just found out one of my mollies is pregnant as well. I currently have both shrimp and molly in a breeding net. I have low hope for the shrimp babies with the molly in there but could they make it? The only reason I put her in there is because she looks ready to pop. I apologize for the blurriness because I added a new layer of substrate an hour ago, and bits of junk have been caught on the outside of the breeding net. How exactly do you raise the fry? I will try keep my on eye her and take her out soon after she has them.

 

Breeding nets tend to stress pregnant fish. They aren't recommended for birthing. You can catch fry and put them in the net if you don't have a nursery tank until they are a few days old and less likely to be looked upon by adult fish as snack food.

Some or all of the young will get eaten. That's Nature's way of controlling the population.

The ghost shrimp eggs hatch larva that eventually develop into miniature adults. This is different from cherry shrimp who hatch tiny versions of themselves.

The ghost larva need green water and the biofilm found in mature tanks to develop properly. While young are occasionally found in tanks, they are the exception rather than the rule.

There are threads on the ghost shrimp subforum from keepers who have successfully raised babies.

 

Okay thank you so much for information! In this situation, I highly doubt the fry will last longer than a few hours. I have an eclipse cat that actively hunts day and night and will only eat live food. I will remove her from the net and try to watch best as I can.

 

Hey, I had the same problem! I ought a molly and also found out it was pregnant a couple days later. I bought a 5 gallon tank for them after about a week in the breeder box. I did bI weekly 20% water changes and fed them daily a small piece of freeze dried brine shrimp. They grew up very quickly and healthy. 8/10 survived.

 

Hey, I had the same problem! I ought a molly and also found out it was pregnant a couple days later. I bought a 5 gallon tank for them after about a week in the breeder box. I did bI weekly 20% water changes and fed them daily a small piece of freeze dried brine shrimp. They grew up very quickly and healthy. 8/10 survived.

Well she only birthed 2, and I was not able to get them in time. She still looks preggo so hopefully I will be able to save the next batch. Mother nature is a cruel sob lol.

 

First litters are often small. The next time may be bigger. (Even if she isn't in with males, there may be a next time. Livebearers can hold sperm for months.)