I have babies!!

[dieanna]

I just bought a pair of female black mollies a couple days ago and I guess I got a few extra! One of them is in the process of giving birth as I write this! So far she's had 3. How many can I expect? She started expelling other matter out of her. Does that mean she's done or can I expect more? She's about 2.5" and she's still pretty fat. Thanks.

 

[Jchillin]

Not unusual to see 10-20 or more. Do you have a breeding net?

 

[Stuart]

Congratulations!! It's surprising how many female live-bearers are pregnant when you get them.

 

[dieanna]

Thanks. Yes, I immediately scooped out the babies and put them in the breeding net. The mother is very animate and is searching for food while the birth is going on, so I thought that I should maybe leave her out of the net. I'm afraid she'll eat the babies. So far there haven't been anymore little ones.

 

[gheitman]

I have bred mollies (they did the hard part actually) and never used a breeding net. I never witnessed any aggression towards the fry by the adults.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

If other fish are in the tank, they can eat the fry. If you are wanting to keep the fry, definately use a breeder net. If not, just leave them in the tank. Some will probably survive.