Are these two mollys near birthing

[amberj]

Hello are these Mollys near to giving birth ? I am really nervous first time live bearer owner

 

[Andy Sager]

Gestation period for Mollies as approx. 6 -8 weeks however, fish can delay delivery if they feel stressed or don't believe their area is safe for the young. The best you can do is add lots of plants ( live or artificial) or yarn mops so that the fry have a safe place to hide as adult fish, including the Mother, will eat them. The better plants for this are those with frilly leaves ( Anacharis, foxtail, Hornwort, Java moss, etc) vs plants with larger singular leaves like Sword Plants, Anubias, etc.
Do you have a separate tank to put the fry in?

 

[BBradbury]

Hello. Very swollen stomachs, possibly due to the pressure of the new fry. The females will not want to eat and will shake or shiver a little because they're uncomfortable. But, livebearing females can hold off dropping their fry until they feel the water conditions are just right for the survival of the little ones. I would perform a water change and remove a little more than normal. Make the new water a bit warmer. The flush of clean, warm water may help encourage delivery.

B

 

[amberj]

Thank you guys I will do a water change I do have a tank for the fry because when we got them from the pet shop they were in with boys and she gave birth and passed away I am worried about the same happening with these ones we do have a well planted tank but there is African dwarf frogs in there too I think I will also get yarn mops , we do have one of the birthing tanks when would you suggest to move them out the main tank into them ? Many thanks guys

 

[Andy Sager]

Thank you guys I will do a water change I do have a tank for the fry because when we got them from the pet shop they were in with boys and she gave birth and passed away I am worried about the same happening with these ones we do have a well planted tank but there is African dwarf frogs in there too I think I will also get yarn mops , we do have one of the birthing tanks when would you suggest to move them out the main tank into them ? Many thanks guys

It's actually not a good idea to move a pregnant female when they are so close to giving birth. This could lead to premature births or stillborn births. The Frog in the tank is a real potential problem as they can eat the fry. I'd consider one of 2 things: Remove the frog into a separate tank until after the Mollies give birth and the fry are moved or move the Mollies now into that separate tank you plan on raising the fry in and set that up for her/them to give birth in there understanding that there may be complications by doing this.

Just to clarify, your "Birthing" tank is a separate aquarium and not just a floating breeder box like this:

 

[BBradbury]

Hello again. You don't need to move the fish. Just start feeding a little more and a little more often. I think you'll find that a well fed adult fish won't show as much interest in the fry. By removing and replacing more water, you'll remove the added nitrogen in the water that comes with feeding more often.

B

 

[Andy Sager]

Hello again. You don't need to move the fish. Just start feeding a little more and a little more often. I think you'll find that a well fed adult fish won't show as much interest in the fry. By removing and replacing more water, you'll remove the added nitrogen in the water that comes with feeding more often.

B

And what do you do with the frog(s)? THAT is why you move one or the other.

 

[amberj]

No it was just a breeder box I didn’t plan to breed the fish were just starting up the tank I have a four foot tank that we plan to get up and running but we don’t have all the equipment for that all of the girls I got from the pet shop seem to look pregnant but them two are acting strange , they also have gave us one dalamation boy in the mix but he harasses. The white molly not these two until today he’s started nipping there bums , I’m so sorry I’m so bad at all of this .. but I don’t like the thought of the babies being eaten I can’t even kill a fly x x

 

[Andy Sager]

No it was just a breeder box I didn’t plan to breed the fish were just starting up the tank I have a four foot tank that we plan to get up and running but we don’t have all the equipment for that all of the girls I got from the pet shop seem to look pregnant but them two are acting strange , they also have gave us one dalamation boy in the mix but he harasses. The white molly not these two until today he’s started nipping there bums , I’m so sorry I’m so bad at all of this .. but I don’t like the thought of the babies being eaten I can’t even kill a fly x x

Well then you need to consider removing the frogs or isolating/ rehoming them until the fry get large enough to not get eaten. I wouldn't use a breeder box of Mollies. Those things were a good idea when they came out but really do more damage than good. Many a pregnant fish has died in them. The male biting at their "bums" is him testing their availability for breeding. It's not harassing. That's normal behavior for livebearer fish. ( Mollies, Platies, Guppies, Swordtails, etc. ) If you don't want to have fry, you need to get all males because females can hold sperm for a later fertilization so if a female was ever in the presence of a male, she could be pregnant or will be at some point.

 

[BBradbury]

And what do you do with the frog(s)? THAT is why you move one or the other.

Hello Andy. I don't believe a small frog would be able to make Molly fry a meal. The frog is really too small and the fry a little to quick. But, if the poster feels the need to move one or the other, then by all means do so.

B

 

[Andy Sager]

Hello Andy. I don't believe a small frog would be able to make Molly fry a meal. The frog is really too small and the fry a little to quick. But, if the poster feels the need to move one or the other, then by all means do so.

B

It would be nice if that were true but fish fry are on the Frog's menus. Even if you just believe the internet ( which I obviously don't ) the list includes:

• Live guppy fry : or any type of livebearer fry.
• Frozen or Freeze Dried Brineshrimp.
• Frozen or Freeze Dried Bloodworms or Glassworms.
• HBH Frog and Tadpole Bites.
• Reptomin.
• Gammarus.
• Frozen Beefheart.
• Frozen or Freeze dried krill or baby shrmp.

Our frogs in the store always got fry and live tubifex as their main diet so they definitely can eat them. The secret is they get them at night while the fry are sleeping. It's how they get the vegetation into their diets to counter all the protein.