I have two female Molly Ballon that are pregnant and they should give birth anytime now but there are some issues. I am keeping a close eye on them and i seen them become very agitated and after this hideing in a corner, but the damn Molly male is always comming after them like they are some mobile fast-food unit and he is not liveing them alone. I tryed to put them in the Hatchery after I've seen the signs but they are very stressed inside and they tend to keep ramming the hatchery wall to get out. I've done all I ever heard that you can do, I put them in the Hatchery along with some floating plants and turn the light off with a couple of hours early but there is no use, in the morning i find them hiting the wall to get out. I now that they are very stressed but i don't know what else i can do. My aqarium is very well planted but because of the male that is running from one to the other they cannot give birth in pace. Their belly is very large and almost square. Does anybody have a solution ? Please !!

This post has been edited by BlackMollyBallon: May 20 2008, 10:38 AM

i would personally drop some marbles in the tank and/or some really dense plastic plants, let her give birth then salvage the fry. if the breeder stresses them out dont put them in, but you may want to isolate the male as all he is interssted in is food and a mate

Thanks for the advice Truckasauras ! But can you please explain what is the use of the marbles(marbles for me are little glass balls) ? I have put some plastic plants inside the tank(they look awful) but i noticed that the Molly's can not enter thru the plants, it will be a good place for the fry's to hide. Unfortunately I can not remove the male because my 21 L is a maternity for Red Cherry Shrimps and he will cause a disaster if will end up in there. Thanks again for the patience and anymore ideas will be great !

This post has been edited by BlackMollyBallon: May 20 2008, 11:38 PM

The point to the marbles is that they form like tiny caves where they touch and its another place that fry can get away from the adults. It can look a little strange but it should work. I prefer lots of fine leaved plants but this is an art not a science. Each person does what works for them.

Maybe put the male in the hatchery so you would have the females alone and the male not bothering them.

Thanks Oldman47 for the explanation now it make sense. HCpetraitis i just did that and he is not to happy about it. I will keep him in there for the entire day so the females may relax and tonight maybe i will finaly be a daddy. I will keep you posted with the development !