Pregnant Molly Is About To Pop!

We aren’t sure if we bought her pregnant or if the other lyretail male did it right when we got them. We’ve only had the 2 mollies for a month and a half at most, and she’s definitely big and round. Not as big as some other pregnant ones I’ve seen pictures of, but she has the little white ring under her tail that I’ve read is the opening to the birth canal. It definitely looks like she’s going to birth some fry any day now, but I have no idea what to do with them! I’ve never had a pregnant fish before. I know the other mollies (3 total in tank including pregnant one) will eat them if they get the chance and I definitely don’t want that. I’ve seen those breeder net things at petco/PetSmart that you just put in the tank to hold the fry so they don’t get eaten, should I get one? Do I put the pregnant molly in there? I don’t have any other tanks to put her in and I really don’t want to spend another 60+ bucks on another tank and filter and heater and all that. I’m hoping to somehow take the fry to a LFS that can raise them the right way!

 

The breeder nets are good for keeping the fry in an enclosed space. However, I don't recommend keeping the molly in the breeder net until she gives birth, that makes them stressed out. If you have a heavily decorated/planted tank, the fry will naturally survive until you catch them. At least that's how I recommend doing it. What size tank is this? I don't want to sound harsh, but it's better for the fry to be born naturally (unprotected) because you might end up with too many fry and not enough places to give them away. Sometimes LFS won't accept livebearers because of how many fry they produce.

 

If you have a moderately planted tank, at least some of the fry will survive. I have 2 that are probably about 1/2 inch now and I haven't done anything to help them. They've managed to survive with 4 adult mollies and a betta with no protection except to apongonten plants. I haven't even given them special food. I feed the adults like normal...though I did grind the food a little between my fingers but I didn't increase the number or amounts of the feeding.

As for giving them to an LFS to raise right, not to sound cruel, but I can't imagine a store wanting to take on the fry. They'd have to do more feedings and use up precious tank space for several monthes with no financial return since they wouldn't be able to really sell the until they were an inch or so.

So, it really makes no financial sense for them to take the fry if they don't already have a dedicated fry tank because, with mollies, if an lfs wants molly fry, they already have then.

Again, I'm not trying to be mean and I apologize if I sound that way. I do sympathize because I have fry already and 2 of my mollies are currently pregnant so I'm having to figure out my own solution. I'm going to get a small tank for my male molly and my betta this weekend so my fry issues will be over in 6 months at most.

 

No worries! You don’t sound harsh or mean hahaha I appreciate the honesty!! I know it’s the circle of life and nature for some of the fry to get eaten, it just makes me sad to think about. But I really don’t have room for a bunch more mollies (although my boyfriend wouldn’t complain... mollies are his absolute favorite) so I guess nature will run it’s course. I have 3 live plants and 2 fake ones, along with 2 other cave-like hiding places so I’m sure if anything a few will most likely survive. Once they’re big enough, like an inch or so like you said, I’ll see if any LFS will take them on. My tank is already pretty stocked. Thanks for the help!

If you have a moderately planted tank, at least some of the fry will survive. I have 2 that are probably about 1/2 inch now and I haven't done anything to help them. They've managed to survive with 4 adult mollies and a betta with no protection except to apongonten plants. I haven't even given them special food. I feed the adults like normal...though I did grind the food a little between my fingers but I didn't increase the number or amounts of the feeding.

As for giving them to an LFS to raise right, not to sound cruel, but I can't imagine a store wanting to take on the fry. They'd have to do more feedings and use up precious tank space for several monthes with no financial return since they wouldn't be able to really sell the until they were an inch or so.

So, it really makes no financial sense for them to take the fry if they don't already have a dedicated fry tank because, with mollies, if an lfs wants molly fry, they already have then.

Again, I'm not trying to be mean and I apologize if I sound that way. I do sympathize because I have fry already and 2 of my mollies are currently pregnant so I'm having to figure out my own solution. I'm going to get a small tank for my male molly and my betta this weekend so my fry issues will be over in 6 months at most.

 

No worries! You don’t sound harsh or mean hahaha I appreciate the honesty!! I know it’s the circle of life and nature for some of the fry to get eaten, it just makes me sad to think about. But I really don’t have room for a bunch more mollies (although my boyfriend wouldn’t complain... mollies are his absolute favorite) so I guess nature will run it’s course. I have 3 live plants and 2 fake ones, along with 2 other cave-like hiding places so I’m sure if anything a few will most likely survive. Once they’re big enough, like an inch or so like you said, I’ll see if any LFS will take them on. My tank is already pretty stocked. Thanks for the help!

Always happy to try to help and I do feel your pain. I have been doing my best not to get attached to my 2 fry but they're not even hiding anymore so I can't pretend they're not there, lol. But, I definitely have to move my male to a new tank because my current tank can take the 2 new fry and maybe 1 or 2 more but after that, I don't know what I'm going to do.

So the plan is, remove Gaston to a tank so, at worst I don't have to deal with this issue touch longer.

I do love my mollies but...like you, I don't have the money or space for more large tanks...I'm already pushing it with the small 5 gallon I'm planning.

 

did she give birth yet?

 

did she give birth yet?

Nope! At least not that I can tell. She still looks pretty plump but possibly a little smaller..? She might have given birth to a few that got eaten overnight or something, not entirely sure how this all works lol. But I just did a water change and I’ve read that sometimes that encourages them to give birth within a day or 2 so we’ll see!