Argghhhh! My Molly Had More Fry - Again!

[Ruskull]

I just noticed more Molly fry in my son's tank. How could she possibly have more fry without a male to fertilize her eggs? I'm not quite sure how long it's been since Sailor The Sailfin Molly male died but I'll research my old posts & see if I can figure it out.

There is a very suspicious looking male Guppy in with her..................

 

[Man of fish]

Female livebearers can store sperm for up to six months so chances are your gonna have a lot of babies if you save them all.

 

[Nosphaer]

(EDIT - I hadn't thought about that, as I always think specifically of guppies in relation to livebearers... It sounds likely. ^)

I love a good mystery... I'm sorry to here that an unwanted generation of Mollies are floating around in there, though. ><

Perhaps IDing the male guppy would be worthwhile, given that you weren't cracking a smooth joke.

 

[Man of fish]

Oh yeah and they give birth every month once they store sperm. Until the six months are over.

 

[Ruskull]

Oh yeah and they give birth every month once they store sperm. Until the six months are over.

Oh snap! Now what? Good thing the local PetCo said they'll take them. I'll raise them for awhile like the last batch and bring them to PetCo when they're about a half an inch long.

 

[Ruskull]

(EDIT - I hadn't thought about that, as I always think specifically of guppies in relation to livebearers... It sounds likely. ^)

I love a good mystery... I'm sorry to here that an unwanted generation of Mollies are floating around in there, though. ><

Perhaps IDing the male guppy would be worthwhile, given that you weren't cracking a smooth joke.

Not really sure what you're saying here bro? They were unexpected but not unwanted. I'm not planning on flushing them or anything. In fact I still have 20 of the original fry batch which are heading to the pet store this weekend.

How would I indentify the male Guppy? He's a Blue Tuxedo Guppy from what I understand and he does annoy the Lyretail Molly as if he wants a little..........just saying. Is there any chance a Guppy could fertilize a Molly? I'm pretty sure Manofish's explanation seems more feasable but stranger things have happened no?

 

[FishFanatic04]

lol congrats again. At least your Molly is normal...my Platies keep popping out a few fry at a time and we have no idea which female is doing it. There hasn't been more then 2 or 3 sighted a time.

 

[Ruskull]

lol congrats again. At least your Molly is normal...my Platies keep popping out a few fry at a time and we have no idea which female is doing it. There hasn't been more then 2 or 3 sighted a time.

The last batch was 22 that I saved from that 20 gallon tank and this batch actually looks to be about 30 or so. Some are swimming around the tank without any worries & some are bunched up in the top corners.

Not really sure what to do with them while I'm waiting for that other 20 gallon to get clear & up to temp. I'll probably let them chill out in the tank they're in until tomorrow. Then I'll move them to the fry net in the new 20 gallon, if I can even catch them that is.

Either way I have to shut down the 10 gallon or my wife will have a fit, like she's gonna when I tell her the Moilly will be having another load every month!

 

[Man of fish]

Well you don't have to save them but your son may want to. You may too lol. What I did was saved all of my first batch then 1 from every batch after I've got about 30 fry a little under prolly.

 

[Ruskull]

Well you don't have to save them but your son may want to. You may too lol. What I did was saved all of my first batch then 1 from every batch after I've got about 30 fry a little under prolly.

My son's already making plans to keep a few. I will probably give in and let him have 1 from each batch at most. The problem is I have to wait til they're large enough to pick the same sex.

One more question:

After 6 months and there's no more sperm to fertilize will the female still create eggs & get all fat & stuff?

 

[Man of fish]

I don't think so only if there's a male to fertilize her. Not sure though. I still don't know what to do with mine, I can give them to petco, but they might be sold to uncycled tanks and die of ammonia, I can sell them to my friend for $1 each as feeder fish but at least they'd die in a huge tank or I can put up an ad for them. I'm gonna keep at least 5 and maybe 7-8 and then the other 20 will be sold/given away. Idk what to do. I'm glad your son already knows what he wants to do

 

[Ruskull]

I don't think so only if there's a male to fertilize her. Not sure though. I still don't know what to do with mine, I can give them to petco, but they might be sold to uncycled tanks and die of ammonia, I can sell them to my friend for $1 each as feeder fish but at least they'd die in a huge tank or I can put up an ad for them. I'm gonna keep at least 5 and maybe 7-8 and then the other 20 will be sold/given away. Idk what to do. I'm glad your son already knows what he wants to do

Thanks! I wouldn't give mine away as feeder fish I mean, I raised the little buggers & it's going to be a sad day when we bring them to the fish store. Even if they end up in un cycled tanks at least they had a chance..............

 

[Louiseness]

How would I indentify the male Guppy? He's a Blue Tuxedo Guppy from what I understand and he does annoy the Lyretail Molly as if he wants a little..........just saying. Is there any chance a Guppy could fertilize a Molly? I'm pretty sure Manofish's explanation seems more feasable but stranger things have happened no?

Guppies and mollies CAN interbreed, although there is some debate as to whether the offspring will be weak etc. My LFS claims to have a guppy/molly hybrid, and it certainly looks like one. I guess you'd definitely know if it was him, though because the fry will end up more colourful than normal!

 

[Ruskull]

The new Molly fry are very small & much more orange in color like their mom. They look just like the last batch other than that so chances are they aren't hybrid Molly/Guppy fish. The first batch is more silvery white like their dad, the Platinum Sailfin Molly. Those are starting to show some orange too, mostly around their faces & forehaeds. The strange thing is that the smaller ones are more orange while the larger ones are more platinum.

 

[Iiriva]

Putting an add up and selling them for a one dollar sounds good, or giving them to a pet shop.

I have an add up for my baby mollies, and I have sold them for 1€ to aquarists who want them.