Breeder Box

[Katielady0501]

Would it be too Early to put Sunshine (my pregnant molly) in the breeder box? When should I put her in it? Should I put her in ahead of time or when I notice her giving birth?

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Personally, I don't like putting a female in a breeder box at all. It stresses them out, which in turn can affect the labour, things are more likely to go wrong, just like when any animal (including humans) is stressed out during labour.

I would let her give birth in the main tank, provide a load of floating stem plants for her and then the fry to hide in, then you can net the fry into the breeder box after they're born, and raise them in there for two weeks or so before moving them to a grow out tank or letting them back into the main tank. Some may get eaten by adults if they're born in the main tank, but a lot of plants to hide in helps minimise that, and I'd rather do that than risk losing the female or having her abort the fry.

 

[Retired Viking]

I catch the fry and put them in the breeder box, less chance of the mother getting stressed or eating her fry while stuck in the box. Make sure you feed the fish well, if they are not hungry there is a better chance of the fry surviving. Have plenty of hiding spot and floating plants.