Pregnant Molly and Platy

Ok, so I'm pretty sure I have a pregnant Black molly and a pregnant sunset platy they are both pretty fat and round, and I keep think I'm seeing what could be fry in my platy, however it seems as though they have both been pregnant forever. I know gestation supposed to take about 20-40 days, but I swear my black molly has been pregnant for almost, if not, 2 months. And considering I don't have any male mollies I would have expected her to giver birth at least once by now, considering that mean she got pregnant before I bought her. I know they can hold sperm for up to 6 months, but she just seems to have been pregnant to long. Can stress lengthen pregnancies or just cause early ones, because that's all I can figure is maybe shes stressed, but both? I don't know, I'm quite confused and any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm attaching a picture of each of them, sorry they are not better but I'm still trying to figure out how to get good pictures, I can't get the shutter speed up on my digital fast enough to catch them before the move, and are out of focus.

 

HI Bindel. Yes, livebearer pregnancies can be delayed, hence the mysterious virgin births of female livebearers long after they've seen their last male.

Either that, or they're overfed. How often do you fast them (I do it once a week)?

Now if you think it is delayed pregnancy, then the stress factors can be many, starting with the usual suspects: n'ites/n'ates/a'nia; or pH fluctuations; or temp fluctuation/uncomfortable temp; or aggressive tank mates

 

Well I feed them every day, like everything I read has said, but not a lot, and I don' t think they are overfed because none of my other fish look blotted from feeding. As far as water levels go, I just tested them all and they were pretty good, so I don't think its that. My Black molly might be stressed from the smaller tank I put her in, but its bigger then the breeder and she was attacking the other fish. My platy seems to be fine although the male seems to tag along her, not aggressively, just there all the time. I'll try reposting the pictures since they didn't work last time.

 

Mollies, platies, guppies, etc can hold their fry if they feel the situations in the tank are unsafe or too stressful. Try making them more comfortable, do routine waterchanges, add dense plants to the tank, more hiding places, etc.

 

Or has she recently been moved?

Overfeeding as in not bloated fish, but as in building up on substrate.

What are your parameters?

Well I feed them every day, like everything I read has said, but not a lot, and I don' t think they are overfed because none of my other fish look blotted from feeding. As far as water levels go, I just tested them all and they were pretty good, so I don't think its that. My Black molly might be stressed from the smaller tank I put her in, but its bigger then the breeder and she was attacking the other fish. My platy seems to be fine although the male seems to tag along her, not aggressively, just there all the time. I'll try reposting the pictures since they didn't work last time.

 

I think warming the water a little helps too. what is the water temp at now?

 

It looks like too many fish in the tank; are the pregnant ones in the 10 gallon with all the others are your list? If they don't feel safe they won't drop the fry; if you put the 2 pregnant ones in their own tank they would probably drop them within a week. They need a lot of plants and space. With all those fish swimming around it will make them nervous to drop the fry.

 

yea, i'm sorry but I had missed that.. the tank is VERY overstocked and i'd really recommend at least 1 or 2 tanks (depending on size) to get all of your tanks to 1 gallon of water per adult inch of fish. A lower light area, with water about 80F and plants/caves would make the momma feel more comfortable, especially if it was a small temp. tank for her to sit in until ready to drop.

 

Ok, well the black molly is in her own tank and I moved her there about 2 weeks ago, its about a gallon and a half and I just did a water change and added some warmer water and also covered the out side, so will see how that goes. The Platy is in the other tank with all the other fish, but they are all still pretty small, but I know, I need a bigger tank. I got my fish before I started doing much reading and didn't realize I was over crowding, and at the moment I don't have the money for a new tank, the curse of being a college student. Anyways I did have her in a hatchery for a little wile but then, after some reading, I looked closer and didn't see the gravid spot so I let her loose. It still seems like she's been pregnant for a wile, but still no spot. I am taking measures to warm the water a little to see if that helps. As far as hiding places go I have a fair amount. I have a scull, several shells and a sizable plant. So I am taking as many steps as possible, but am still up for any other suggestions.

Thanks! The help I greatly appreciated.

 

The platy definitely looks pregnant in my opinion. A lot of time you can't see the gravid spot on platies their not as visible as other breeds. I have 7 or 8 pregnant platy's (1 i'm not sure yet, will have to wait and see as time progresses) and only 2 show a gravid spot. With her being reddish-orangeish you will not see a gravid spot 9 out of 10 times. Even though it may be crowded I suggest putting her in the tank with the molly as well. Gravid spots are usually only identifiable on platy's with very light colored skin (the two that I can see mine on are light blue)

 

Well I don't know about gravid spots but I can see 4 or 5 eyes very distinctly through her and a orengish/red glow where there should be the the spot. Also I Think She has gotten a lot more swollen just in the last couple days, so I wonder if she's getting close, although I would expect to see more eyes then that. Also I don't want to move her into the small tank with the molly because the molly is a bully and that would put her under more stress than the male platy that won't leave her alone. But I took care of that, the male platy has been antagonizing my pregnant platy and even more so my gold dust molly, so I isolated him for the time being, hes not happy, but I'm more worried about the pregnant fish then Him.

 

The gravid spot is baby eyes forming in the mother. So if you see the eyes you kind of see the gravid spot; there probably is a lot more than you see because her skin is darker. Flat marbles will make for good hiding spots along with the plants.

 

Gravid spot serves the same function as the female human's womb. In platies it is quite often translucent, but with guppies and other livebearers it is more purplish. Translucent area would mean you'd be able to see eyes and such through it if you paid enough attention.