Virgin birth?!

[roxxma]

My black molly had babies. I don't know how, I have had it for months and it is the only molly in my aquarium (10 gallons w/five harlequin rasporas, a zebra danio and a dwarf gourami). I was doing a little light maintenence and saw three 1/3 inch long black fry swimming around. They aren't fat, like mama, but I assume they will be with time. Is there a chance that they may be a mixed breed or something?

 

[krap101]

probably when you got it it was already pregnant. because livebearers can hold sperm for a pretty long time

 

[roxxma]

Thanks. Mother Nature is a mad scientist I guess! Here I was ready to start a whole new religion...

 

[Andos99]

The same thing happened to me before....you just got her pregnant from the pet store.

 

[fishyrican]

I believe the name for this is superfetation. The male molly can fertilize the female one time and she can carry the sperm for months, having more than one batch of fry from one single fertilization.