And more babies

[fawnmodel]

About, oh two months ago, a month after we added new mollies to our tank, I noticed a black fry. I could not catch him, and I assume he and his siblings all got eaten He was the only I saw at all. His mommy was a dalmation balloon molly and she was hiding for a few days before I spotted him.

We haven't had any babies that I know of since, and we also have a creamsicle balloon molly. She was preg when we got her, but she just did not want to release those babies So, I set up a cloned tank for fry, let her own that tank for a few days, she did not have babies. So, Now it is my 'time out tank', it also houses a small school of neons.

I clean the tanks twice a week, water is always excellent and no disease. Still, no babies! Yesterday In vacuumed the main tank, and moved my male sailfin to the tetra tank for a few days rest from a bully in the large tank. Cleaned all, rinsed out filter - no babies. One of my female danios had got herself stuck in an ornament and died, so it prompted full cleaning and investigation, lol.

Well, this morning, lo and behold, I see four baby mollies! I moved all the adults out so it would make catching them easier as the tank is very well decorated. I am pretty sure these are from the creamsicle balloon molly, as the dalmation hides before birth, and nobody has been hiding. And, they all look like my marble /black male sailfin (who adores the creamsicle female)!

So I caught them all, put them in a floaty for babies. Cleaned the tank really well looking for more babies but Ic an't find ANY! and, none in the filter. I am not totally convinced my four mollies, danios, and the sword coudl eat them all overnight but who knows. I decided to put the creamsicle baloon female, who I think is mom, into a breeder for now and see what happens. Is it possible that she had only a few, and could release the rest say over the next day? Also, the other fish have been following her around pecking at her vent, even the females, so I think they may have been gobbling babies.

The babies are pretty big! I was surprised at that. Do you think neons would eat them? I just keep the neons in the fry tank to keep it properly cycled. Or should I just let the fry mature a while in the fry floaty, and then swap them into the fry tank. I can put the neons (and the sailfin is going back in tomorrow) back in the main tank if that works, so the babies can have their own tank.

Anyhow, the kids are so happy, I will try to take some pics. I have bbs and various fry foods, they seem to be eating and happy

 

[Annastasia]

Congrats!

The Mollies could very well have eaten the fry overnight...some of them are notorious fry eaters. Though yes, it is possible she only had a few and could have more over the next few days.

I doubt the Neons will eat the babies. Most Neons won't be able to fit a Molly baby in their mouth, much less catch it. I wouldn't worry about them. Also, I'd give the fry their own tank...they'll grow faster, and be happier. As long as you keep it very clean, because they are sensitive.

Best of luck!

 

[fawnmodel]

Thanks for the reply!

Well the babies must be eating, tho I never really see them eat much, because they are all swimming and looking so nice and healty. Ive been feeding 5x a day, liquifry, bbs, and baby powdered flake. I also clean out the baby hut before and after I feed, as I am paranoid about bad buggies growing in the waste.

Its the dalmation who had them (I think she only had a small batch) - she was looking slightly fat the past few days, and now she is slimmer. Also, she is one of those 'slender' balloon molllies who is part normal molly, so it is sometimes hard to tell if she is just fat! Two babies look just like her (tho dad is a marble too) one is white with a tiny bit o' black and one is plain white/silver. They are hyper! I am going to keep them in the hut until they double in size, I cannot bear to think the neons could possibly hurt them - and I do have a nippy group of neons. Then I will put them in the fry tank with the neons.

Thanks again for all your help, here!

 

[paulthegreat]

Swordies are gluttons and will decimate fry, even their own. Putting the Mommy in a breeder just before she gives birth is the best chance if you want to save the fry. You have to get it right though so you do not put her in too early and stress her out. I have always kept a close eye on my girls when they get close and when the start to go I get them in the breeder.

 

[fawnmodel]

Just an update, the babies are doing GREAT! I still have all four, and they are already fat and so active. Still in the breeder hut, with some little pants. I clean it out before and after each feeding carefully by hand. They are still eating bbs, liquifry and fry staple food (powdered flake). The def like bbs the best.

I was hoping the daddy was my lyre tail, but I think it is the marbled sailfin as he is more sexually mature and the lyre has just turned 'man'. But one baby is stone white/silver like him, no lyre tails that I can tell tho. Can they develop later or do you think I would spot them already? Babies are about a cm long.

 

[Annastasia]

You sound like an excellent fishy mom (or dad)!

They may still develop Lyre-tails. It can be hard to see when they are so little, so wait a bit and give them some time to grow up. Though if the other one was sexually mature before him, it's more likely he got to the females first. I'm sure eventually you'll have some Lyre-tails, if you just wait a while.