Male Molly Fry

[jairic]

My 3 month old black molly fry has been forming his gonopodium for about a week now. He's only about an inch and a half now and has become a little sex-crazed monster. He keeps trying to mate with his pregnant mother. I know that mollies and all live-bearers will readily mate with siblings and relatives but does anyone know if I should separate him to prevent inbreeding or leave him be. It would happen in nature. Just need someone else's input.


P.S.- I also have a runt in my one month old litter that is about a centimeter in length do you think he would get eaten by my Three and a half inch Silver Sailfin Molly male?

 

[Aquastrategist]

What is you tank size and what and how many fish do you have?

 

[jairic]

The pregnant molly and four fry are in a 10 gallon heated tank
In my 15 gallon i have two male platys, 1 male molly and four chinese algae eaters the pregnant mother lives in the 15 gallon too but is in the ten gallon for birth.

 

[Ursi]

I don't know the answer to the first question, but in regards to the second one: if the baby fish is able to fit into any others mouth, it will get eaten.. I don't let mine out until they are bigger than all the other mouths hope that helps

 

[Aquastrategist]

I wouldn't worry too much about the babies, let them do what they gotta do hahah. On a sidenote, a chinese algae eater can get 8 inches or more, in the future they have no right to be in a 15 gallon. Good luck with the fry, I would make sure there is dense plantage and hiding spots in the fry tank.

 

[jairic]

Ok thanks for the info. about the chinese algae eaters I didn't know at the time because my lfs gave them to me for free when i got my mollies (which were sick) 2 months ago. I've researched them and tried to take them back but no one would take them, but they havn't done anything wrong in my tank

 

[Aquastrategist]

Yes they are quite helpful, they will just get to big. Good luck!

 

[Ian086]

My 3 month old black molly fry has been forming his gonopodium for about a week now. He's only about an inch and a half now and has become a little sex-crazed monster. He keeps trying to mate with his pregnant mother. I know that mollies and all live-bearers will readily mate with siblings and relatives but does anyone know if I should separate him to prevent inbreeding or leave him be. It would happen in nature. Just need someone else's input.


P.S.- I also have a runt in my one month old litter that is about a centimeter in length do you think he would get eaten by my Three and a half inch Silver Sailfin Molly male?

Hi, there's three things you can do about inbreeding;
1. Separate them
2. Sell or trade them
3. Just keep only male or only females but remember that females can store sperm for up to 6 months, and give birth every month.
My 3 month old platy had fry with her brother I didn't think it was possible at that age, although i know now!!..Although i'm sure in nature inbreeding does happen, it is alot less likely than in your aquarium..
Also i doubt your 'runt' would get eaten as he wouldn't fit in the Sailfins mouth!!!..
Hope this helps...Ian

 

[jairic]

Thanks for all of the good advice.