Advice On Mollies

[freddie21]

hi everyone

a while back i got a pair of sailfin mollies (1 male 1 female) who seemed to follow each other around the tank - it was if the male was trying to show off to the female for possible mating - as a result we named them romeo and juliet haha...however juliet developed white spot and shortly after it was treated she died ! We then got another molly so that romeo would not be lonely - as the new molly was labelled as a sailfin but it doesnt look a bit like romeo - this one is bright yellow/orange, is only very small - and its 'sailfin' is nothing like romeo's - however this does not stop him following her like he did with juliet! But i am a little worried that he is being a bit too fierce with her, which may cause stress to her? he puts his sail fin up completely and swims around her very closely and flicks her with his tail - this can go on for a long time - throughout the day.....now i need some advice .....would i be better to add a few more females to the tank to make it less stressful for my current female - if so how many? Should i just stick to sailfin mollies because i quite like the dalmation mollies but do not know if these are suitable

thanks in advance

 

[Fishy friend2]

I would get 1-2 more mollies If I were you,

 

[fishchick]

Indeed, they say three females to every one male, so the male does not stress just one female by following her around trying to breed constantly..

 

[freddie21]

and can it be any type of molly or just sailfin?

thanks again - all advice appreciated

 

[Fishy friend2]

You can get any type you want to

 

[fishchick]

yes any kind, If you want more variaty in your babies then I would recommend getting a few different colored females just to mix things up a bit

 

[freddie21]

id love them to have babies Are there any signs to tell if mollys/plattys are pregnant - only a few of my plattys have an enlarged white middle?
if they are pregnant should i purchase a nursery tank? im not too sure what to do - iv never had any pregnant fish before - see my signature for the fish i currntly have - am sure most will want to eat the babies

thanks

 

[fishchick]

Yes, most everything in there would love a baby molly/platy for a snack unfortunately.. And yes I would recommend a plastic brooder tank that can sit inside your main tank. The most obvious signs of pregnancy of course are an enlarged stomach before feeding. The closer they get to giving birth a gravid spot will appear. This spot is a dark spot, which is really hard to see on dalmation and darker colored mollies, that appears just forward and above their anal fin..Basically just forward of where you would imagine the babies to come out I have always removed the female into the brooder when this gravid spot appears and when she looks about ready to pop.. Also there is a really good info thread on here in the livebearer section I believe at the very top showing the complete gestation period of a molly, with pictures and information about it..I'll check to make sure it's still there for you, and let you know where on here it is for sure

 

[fishchick]

Yes it's in the livebearers section, under common livebearers. There's some really helpful information in there..Hope this helps )

 

[ultimatebob]

i agree, 3 females to every male. also to increase chances of fry survival, i would pack that tank with vegetation, espescially floating plants to prevent cannibalism.

 

[freddie21]

thanks for all replies - just bought two dalmation mollies ( one white one and one black one) however the male is yet to notice them haha

 

[OldMan47]

Your male is probably going to be a lot like any other male, even me. He will have his favorite female no matter how many you present to him. That does not mean that the extra females are not helping. Each added female means one more that he can seek out when his favorite female is not particularly receptive. It can make all the difference for the female who will not be overly stressed by a persistent male.