Zagz
Aquarium Advice Addict
I have had this mollie for about 3 weeks, I think she is pregnant. What do you think? Sorry about the blue tint, I was messing with the camera settings, I really have to read the manual on the camera. LOL.
Is my mollie pregnant?
- Thread starter Zagz
- Start date
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mr86mister
Aquarium Advice FINatic
there is a possibility, look close enough to see her abdomen, if its far enough along you might be able to see eyes, or there will be a black dot on her body right at the top tip of her anal fin....just wait and see and if you suddenly have a whole bunch of little mollies around you will know....but if you dont want them....scoop them up when they are young and either put them in a seperate tank or try to sell them to your lfs.......send more updated pics when you can w/in the next week or two to show us how she is progressing....good luck! 
zilla870
Aquarium Advice FINatic
not to be a downer to you but if she gives birth during the night more then likely your nice little predator angelfish will eat them if not well fed. and just a question do you know your overstock on your tank when everyone get full grown. what are your plans on that. i just asking not telling . i dont know your exp level. Good luck with the little lady, maybe get a breeder tank that you can put in your tank to keep the babies and her safe.
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Zagz
Aquarium Advice Addict
I had purchased a breeder tank just in case she was pregnant. I still don't see any black spots or anything, guess time will tell for sure.
I realize that my fish are going to get bigger, I plan on purchasing another tank within the next few months. Angel and her little sis will go in there for sure, the others I will spend some time researching and make a decision. I will most likely transfer the ADF's too. I do appreciate the question because I am fairly new to this and like most people that start out with fish, no one advised me about cycling or how to do it. It was a learn as you go process with a lot of hearbreak for me. I think fish tanks should be sold with a warning label on them that you shoud not add fish immediately and directions on what cycling is and how to do it. It sure would save a lot of fish!
I realize that my fish are going to get bigger, I plan on purchasing another tank within the next few months. Angel and her little sis will go in there for sure, the others I will spend some time researching and make a decision. I will most likely transfer the ADF's too. I do appreciate the question because I am fairly new to this and like most people that start out with fish, no one advised me about cycling or how to do it. It was a learn as you go process with a lot of hearbreak for me. I think fish tanks should be sold with a warning label on them that you shoud not add fish immediately and directions on what cycling is and how to do it. It sure would save a lot of fish!
zilla870
Aquarium Advice FINatic
yes it would. but how would the store make money." oh sure you can put fish in there now. $$$$$$. oh they died. let me test your water. oh try these fish. $$$$$$"
Well there are 2 rules people go by on stocking tank.
1st rule: 1 in per gallon. so your max is 29 ins of fish
2nd rule: is surface area. LxW= total / 12 = total inches of fishs that is for FW tropical. there is a different rule for coldwater.
Well there are 2 rules people go by on stocking tank.
1st rule: 1 in per gallon. so your max is 29 ins of fish
2nd rule: is surface area. LxW= total / 12 = total inches of fishs that is for FW tropical. there is a different rule for coldwater.
Toirtis
God of primitive fishes
She does look like she could well be gravid...that breeding trap was a good purchase, you may well need it soon.
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Zagz
Aquarium Advice Addict
when to put her in the breeder tank?
Will a pregnant mollie start to act different when she is close to giving birth? Or will she just drop the fry while swimming around with no difference in behavior? My mollie is hiding behind some plants, there are two other mollies sticking close beside her. She is normally very active swimming at the front of the tank, she seems find other than hiding near the back of the tank, kind of in the darkness. My breeder tank is a floating tank that has a V in it for the fry to fall into, so mama won't eat her fry and then you can remove mama and keep the fry in the tank to get bigger without being eaten. I'm thinking time has come to put her into the breeder tank. I just don't want to do it too soon as it seems kinda cruel to confine her unnecessarily, when she is used to swimming around a bigger tank.
Will a pregnant mollie start to act different when she is close to giving birth? Or will she just drop the fry while swimming around with no difference in behavior? My mollie is hiding behind some plants, there are two other mollies sticking close beside her. She is normally very active swimming at the front of the tank, she seems find other than hiding near the back of the tank, kind of in the darkness. My breeder tank is a floating tank that has a V in it for the fry to fall into, so mama won't eat her fry and then you can remove mama and keep the fry in the tank to get bigger without being eaten. I'm thinking time has come to put her into the breeder tank. I just don't want to do it too soon as it seems kinda cruel to confine her unnecessarily, when she is used to swimming around a bigger tank.
Toirtis
God of primitive fishes
Sometimes their activity is different. I would pop her into the breeder just to be on the safe side.
TomK2
Aquarium Advice Addict
be wary of the breeding net "stress". The mom can get very stressed if put in to soon, and either die or miscarry if left in too long too. I killed a couple of swordtails trying the floating plastic breeding trap. perhaps the nets are better? I used a divided 10 gal tank for platy with great results.
perhaps the nets are better? I used a divided 10 gal tank for platy with great results.
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Zagz
Aquarium Advice Addict
I've been worried about putting her in a breeder tank too soon. Should I put her in my 5 gal that I typically use as a QT tank? Won't she eat her own fry?
Toirtis
God of primitive fishes
Zagz said:
As long as she is within 3-4 days of giving birth, you should be fine.
If it is cycled, sure.
Very possibly....have you any plants (real or plastic) that are good for hiding fry that you can put in with her?
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Zagz
Aquarium Advice Addict
My QT is cycled, I keep it up and running, just in case I need to hospitalize a fish. I figure it is kind of a waste to have a tank empty but then again if I need it, it takes too long to cycle it and then it won't serve the purpose.
I think she is getting near giving birth but can't be sure about how much longer, I think I'll put her in the QT tank to be safe, and yes I have plants in there. Plastic but they will provide hiding places. Do the fry automatically try and hide?
I think she is getting near giving birth but can't be sure about how much longer, I think I'll put her in the QT tank to be safe, and yes I have plants in there. Plastic but they will provide hiding places. Do the fry automatically try and hide?
Toirtis
God of primitive fishes
Yes, the fry will automatically attempt to hide, either in plants or amongst gravel
TomK2
Aquarium Advice Addict
There has to be somewhere for the fry to escape too. You can buy plastic plants that come in dense mats that the fry can hide in, or you can divide the tank with a divider. You can check out my breeding tank at:
http://home.comcast.net/~tomstank/tomstank_files/page0019.htm
http://home.comcast.net/~tomstank/tomstank_files/page0019.htm
