Case Of The Missing Fry... Were They Eaten?

[AdamTheZombie]

Well, my black Sail Fin Molly MAY have given birth last night. And I didn't trap her. This morning I noticed a little black thing near the base of a plant. It was a fry! I looked around the other and I found another! I know that the fry can easily be eaten when theyre born, but my question goes a little further. Are these even newborns? Look how big they are. so here are my few questions.
 
1.) Are these possibly from last night?
2.) if so, I think theyre way too big to be eaten by my fish. Where could the others be?
3.) is it possible that mama hasnt dropped all the fry yet? I threw her in the trap but shes looking much slimmer than last night.
 
What are my possibilities? how long does a fry drop take? I only have found 2 fry, I can't imagine that even if these big fry were eaten, that my tank managed to devour some 20 of them... let me know! thanks!

 

[Chad]

There's no link to a photo...also when you put that one up a photo of the mother might help as well.
 
Quick answer is yes, fry can be eaten overnight.

 

[AdamTheZombie]

derp. thanks. I know fry can get eaten overnight... but in this pic, don't these fry look more than a night old?

and here's the mom. I'm just thinking that the fry here are way to big to fit in anythings mouth, never mind that even if they did manage to get eaten, they fry should have greatly  outnumbered the fish in my tank. I don't know how I could only have two. Unless fry grow greatly in just a few hours. Or I missed them and the little buggers have been there longer.

 

[Chad]

That's an older fry. I can't tell if she's ready to drop or not but that fry isn't from last night.

 

[AdamTheZombie]

Yea, that's what I thought... But she was bigger last night. About 16 hours ago

 

[Chad]

I didn't see the second photo before...it has a better perspective to judge scale by...it looks larger in the first photo...the second does look like a new born, though it is quite well formed.

 

[AdamTheZombie]

well, since I've got you here, let me ask.
 
I removed the mama from the trap and put in the next mama ready to drop. At least I think she is. She is smaller but shes not getting any fatter, just flatter on the bottom. I Think she's been squared off for a few days now, at least, and looks the same as the last did before she dropped (at some point. lol). think you can help me tell?
 

it's so hard to tell in photo's. I don't think they ever look ready in a picture.

 

[Chad]

She is pretty squared off but I have found that just how much so depends on the fish and size of the brood. The black one does not look pregnant.