I have recently move 2 pregnant mollies and one pregnant swordtail from my community tank into a smaller one. I am at school from 8 - 4 i am woried that i will miss the birth and the other mollies will eat them is that right?
I have a breeding net but i dont know when to put it in. My Swordtail has a VERY strong black dot in its stomache but it isnt very fat so i have mixed signs.

I would apreciate the help

Thanks Guys.

Can someone help please!

Some will probably get eaten. If you provide lots of plants , real or fake, for them to hide in they will have a better chance and some should survive.

Hi,

If you have move the pregnant fish to thier own tank, it would be a good idea to put some live plants in so the fry have a place to hide..usually mollie and swordtail fry are pretty big and easily escape being eaten but the plants will give them a lot better chance of survival..

When a fish is readt to drop, look out for the following

Dwelling on the bottom
Hanging around the top of the tank
Hovering near plants (or in them)
Hanging around the filter (if you have a internal one)
Hovering above the heater



and also.....

dont go by the gravid spot, .. the gravid spot can appear dark on females that aint pregnant, and appear light on heavy pregnant ones, all fish are diffrent and the gravid spot is so misleading.. the easiest way to tell is by the size of her belly (it will square off)

Depending on the size of your fish and age.. she may not get big and still drop... also sometimes in the gravid spot you can see the babies eyes, this is a good indication she aint far off her drop (once again dont go by the gravid spots color as i said, light or dark, all are diffrent... , but if there is eyes, thats a good sign)

Anymore questions, just ask

This post has been edited by 5teady: Feb 22 2008, 07:16 PM

Well, you can find some plants in the tank and keep the lights off. Just give the fry plenty of placed to hide.

Any chance you could separate the mollies altogether. I believe they are quite good about not eating their own fry. Best that they do have somewhere to hide though.

Definitely lots of plants. Some may get eaten. I've had about 20 fry in my main tank since birth and they are still thriving. I have one corner heavily planted with artificial plants just pushed really close together. They hide well and the bigger fish can't swim between the plants.
Good luck!