6 expectant mammas at one time

[Stellah]

Have 6 live bearers due within the week to my estimation. They are huge- and half of them are squaring off- dark large gravid spots- swimming awkwardly- etc.

3 sunset Platys and 3 golden panda mollies.

This isn't my first time breeding them- (accidentally) I have a 20 gallon set up with aprox 40 fry from guppies, mollies, and bettas. All doing well- at various stages of development.

My question is- what do I do when I have 6 at the same time? In the past- I have cupped the mamma and put her in a 2.5 birthing tank with sponge filter etc- waited for her to finish- and cup her back to the main 55 gallon tank- raised the fry until they are strong swimmers (aprox 2-3 weeks) and then put them in the 20 g fry tank.

I obviously don't have 6 2.5 birthing tanks- and I am afraid to stress them all into aborting by moving all of them at once- and the other mothers eating the fry if one were to pop.

The obvious answer is to leave them in the heavily planted 55 and hope for the best- that I can scoop them out when they are born- but I also have tetras- and a very large pleco- female bettas and an angel who I would believe would love a live fry meal.

I don't want to lose the fry- as I am enjoying raising the ones I have. Any suggestions would be great. Thank you in advance.

 

[1998golfer]

get a few 10g at petco or petsmart or off of craigslist and put some dividers in. this will probably happen again in the future so being prepared is important. Chances are you can get them set up fairly cheaply with some sponge filters running off of a 2 port air pump if you split each 10g into 2 sections... shouldnt be too expensive. With that many fry you'll need to get more growout tanks than your 20g.. it will get too small very fast.
hope this helps
-1998golfer

 

[Stellah]

get a few 10g at petco or petsmart or off of craigslist and put some dividers in. this will probably happen again in the future so being prepared is important. Chances are you can get them set up fairly cheaply with some sponge filters running off of a 2 port air pump if you split each 10g into 2 sections... shouldnt be too expensive. With that many fry you'll need to get more growout tanks than your 20g.. it will get too small very fast. hope this helps -1998golfer

I do have another 20 gallon I can use- but I don't have the cash to invest in more dividers. After they grow out of the 20- I'll put them back in the 55 ( select ones) or rehome- so that isn't really the issue.

I guess im really asking- what's the best thing to do with what I have to save as many as possible?

 

[Stellah]

Just some visual aids to help-

(The pink male is in his own tank) that picture was just for fun.

 

[BBradbury]

Hello Stell...

I scanned your post and hopefully, I got most of it. I keep large tanks of Livebearers too. In all the years of keeping them, I never moved my pregnant females, it's stressful. I heavily plant all my tanks. I use Common water weed and Pennywort for the surface, to hide the females and the little ones. For the bottom, to keep my Corydoras happy, I planted Anubias nana and nangi, Singapore moss, Cryptocoryne, Java fern and put in lots of driftwood. By overplanting the tank, the fish have plenty of places to hide and algae growing on the plants to supplement their diet.

I feed a little more than usual when I see fry. Well fed adult fish have no reason to bother the fry. Why hunt if you're full???

I keep the tank water extremely pure with large, weekly water changes and emersed land plants that use the dissolved fish wastes as nutrients. The water properties are always pure and safe for the fish and plants.

Just one reporter's opinion, though.

B

 

[Fishlover3578]

You could add hiding spots for fry which is what I did to my 29 and 20 gal tanks but only 1/3 more or less survived

 

[Stellah]

You could add hiding spots for fry which is what I did to my 29 and 20 gal tanks but only 1/3 more or less survived

My tank is heavily planted, but I have an angel fish, and large tetras that I know would love to (and will) eat them.

Le sigh. I guess I should just do what I normally do, and hope they pop one at a time. :/

 

[Stellah]

And thank you everyone who replied trying I help. I will try a lot of what was told. Thanks for your time!