Please help! I don't know what's wrong with molly fry?

Last week my molly that I had purchased from the LPS gave birth. I could only save three of the fry. I kept them in a breeder and I noticed one fry was larger than the others, was white and was stronger. It swam around as the others sat on the bottom. They were all black. I'm not sure if they were underdeveloped, but after a week I transferred them to my cycled 10 gallon. The mother meanwhile had been acting distant and still is. She is hiding a lot still when she was normally zipping around everywhere. The babies have stayed low to the bottom of the tank. I also noticed some had strands of poop stuck to them which fell off. I was wondering how to get rid of that constipation, since it was just normal poop. Today I saw one of the little babies had died. I immediately did a 25% water change with all the fixings, stress coat, aquarium salt, and water conditioner, plus a little stress zyme. Still, the other little black one doesn't swim very well and stays on the bottom of the tank. Sometimes he'll muster the strength to swim up, but usually falls back down. His tail is always straining. I'm just wondering why one baby is striving so well, while the other is weaker. Also, what could've caused the other baby to die? This is my first batch of mollies and I really want to help them survive.

 

I think (just from my experience) is that it is your Molly's first time giving birth. When my Swordtail first gave birth she only had about eight fry. Though none of mine died, they were VERY small. Oh she also had one egg too, so I guess you could call that a death. She also stayed hidden for about two weeks. But the second time she had thirty+ fry (all are still alive). And she will now chase my finger around a little bit, and swims ALL OVER the tank!

I personally think that it is your molly's first time, so she didn't have as much. Hopefully next time she will have more!

 

Ah so that would explain why she is hiding and why the other two babies were a lot smaller than her. I'm glad to know it is normal for her to be hiding this long after a week. Also I was wondering if as the molly grows, can it possibly stay in the ten gallon tank for life or would it require more space? My other ones are in a 20 gallon, 4 altogether (3 female, 1 male) and my little bristlenose pleco. I don't want to mess up that tank either. But if I do need another tank I have time to save up I imagine. How long can they stay in the ten gallon?

 

I would advise against keeping it in a 10g. Now a temp nursery tank is different tough... I would say that when they are an 1 1/2+ inches then move them... maybe three months, idk, not a molly expert.

 

Kay. I'll be getting a 20 gallon for the survivors. I'll move them once they are big enough (if they both hang in there). But also about the constipation problem. How can I get rid of that. I think it was food at the bottom they were picking at. I got most of it up, but they are still having stuck poo. Would it just be the pea method like the adults?

 

Ya I would say that would work! I have never had constipated fry before, so I have no experience in that...

 

Alright, thanks a lot still. I feel a bit more confident now since we share a similar experience. Thanks a lot.

 

No problem, if you have any other questions PM me (when you get 50 posts), or post a visitor message and I will try to get back to you ASAP!

 

No problem, if you have any other questions PM me (when you get 50 posts), or post a visitor message and I will try to get back to you ASAP!

Alright, thanks.