Balloon molly pregnancy question?

[tropicalsteve1]

Hi all i have a back balloon molly who is hevily pregnant she ill really big and has had 4 fry so far this morning but dosnt seem to have had anymore yet? It is now late evening. Can anyone tell me how long she will be in labor for or give me any advice??
Fishy regards, Steve.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Mollys can give birth over a week in total but most of the time they will be finished within a day, it is most likely she or another fish has eaten some of the fry though. What size tank is she in/how many gallons does it hold and what other fish is she with?

 

[tropicalsteve1]

She is in a 90 gall tank with a couple of other mollys 3 small guppys 2 paties a very small baby angle fish and a 2 small dwarf goramie, and a pair of mini puffer. But she has spent the last week in the breeding trap away from the others.
Fishy regards, Steve.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

A week is too long for her to be in a breeding trap, 4days is the max before you start to seriously increase the chance of birthing problems- as long as you have some well planted areas for her to hide in out of sight from other fish, she will be able to give birth fine. Breeding traps are only nesarsary when other fish are harrassing the pregnant fish and are much better for raising fry in their early days in- she will be able to give brith alot easier in the main tank and i think it will be best you give her a day or 2 to stretch her fins a bit in the main tank .

 

[tropicalsteve1]

Ok ive just poped her back in the main tank so i supose i will just have to wait and see. Thanks for the info. Hopfully i will get a few more fry soon. Is it true that they can hang on to there fry untill they feel it is safe to relise them?
Fishy regards, Steve.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yes they can hang onto their fry a bit if they feel the water quality conditions is not adequete or other fish are harrassing them lots but this usually happens before the molly is due to give birth and not after she has started . Check in planted areas of the tank as these are where fry hide the most .

 

[afireinside]

but, woudn't the puffers eat teh babies? i hear that they can get pretty aggresive.

 

[tropicalsteve1]

Do you know i was wondering the same thing?? Thats the main reason i moved her. I did have a very agresive large angle in there as some of you may of read in another post put i give him/her to my brother for his new tank and got a little baby one instead to stop the threat of him eating the babys as it did befor, but at least i managed to save 14 of them witch are all doing fine now and have grown somwhat and have since been put back in the main tank as they are too big to get eaten now. I dont think the puffers have tryed to eat any yet but i could be wrong as i dont know what they get up to as they stay hiden most of the time under the rocks plants and drift wood!
Fishy regards, Steve.