Unexpected molly fry. Please help!

My mollies were looking sickly for the past few days, and today morning, when I went to see them, I saw something tiny dart through the water. I first thought it was an insect, but on closer observation, found out that they were fry. The fry were hiding in between the river rocks I used as substrate, and every time, one of them came out, they would get eaten by the mollies. I don't even know which molly dropped the babies.
Since I bought the fish just about two weeks ago, I really wasn't expecting it. I collected all the fry I could, and it is about 20- 30 of them I guess. Since I was unprepared, I got a bucket (20 litres) I was using for aquarium purposes, filled the bottom with river rocks, put a plant inside and separated the fry.
Is there anything I should do? Please help? What do they eat?

 

You will need a small sponge filter with cycled media from the parent tank OR put them in a breeder net in the main tank.
Feed them a tiny bit of powdered flakes a couple times a day (very tiny amount each time)

 

There is a couple of things you can do. One is to isolate them from the main tank in a breeder net or separate tank for a while. using that method you will soon find out that you have been overrun by offspring. The second method which I use with the swordtail offspring is let nature run its course, survival of the fittest. Leave the fry in the main tank, with crevasses in the rocks, and plants they have some natural cover. All the fry may not make it, but you won't have to deal with 20-30 new fish every couple of weeks.

 

There is a couple of things you can do. One is to isolate them from the main tank in a breeder net or separate tank for a while. using that method you will soon find out that you have been overrun by offspring. The second method which I use with the swordtail offspring is let nature run its course, survival of the fittest. Leave the fry in the main tank, with crevasses in the rocks, and plants they have some natural cover. All the fry may not make it, but you won't have to deal with 20-30 new fish every couple of weeks.

The survival of the fittest seems cruel but necessary

You will need a small sponge filter with cycled media from the parent tank OR put them in a breeder net in the main tank.
Feed them a tiny bit of powdered flakes a couple times a day (very tiny amount each time)

I have only pellets. Is it okay if I powder them and feed?

 

The survival of the fittest seems cruel but necessary


I have only pellets. Is it okay if I powder them and feed?

Survival of the fittest may seem cruel, but in the real world if a smaller fish can fit in a bigger fishes mouth it is viewed as a meal. Now if all you have right now is pellets that can work crushed into a powdery type consistency. When I have fry around they just get regular flake food the is turned into a little finer consistency.

 

Pellets crushed is fine too. Tbh my platy fry all went for full sized food instead, I dunno if that's the norm though

 

To most fry crushed food will be fine. But some just go for the big parts of the food where they'll nibble on. Just try one of these methods and see how the fry will react.

 

To most fry crushed food will be fine. But some just go for the big parts of the food where they'll nibble on. Just try one of these methods and see how the fry will react.

I first dropped a full sized pellet in and saw that they were least interested. I kept it for about half an hour there, and removed due to concerns of decomposing food.
I powdered pellets and gave them. I dunno whether they are eating though, they are shy and dart into rocks and plants whenever someone crosses the tank.
I contacted my local pet store and they told that I needn't be so concerned about food for the fry, and they gorge on aquatic plants and moss. Is it true?

 

The swordtail's I had survive over the years got no special treatment from the time they where born. Lived in the main tank they where born in, and the ones that got big enough had offspring of their own. I am slowly getting out of the livebearer side of aquariums, Rainbowfish and some of the ciclids are much more interesting. That and they are not as likely to overrun your tank with fry, and their fry are easier to find individuals or LFS to take them off your hands.