Completely Baffled

[mateysp]

Hey, guys!! I'm new here and I joined because I have a bit of a situation.

Right now in my tank I have:
1 - FEMALE redwag platy
1 - MALE Black Molly
1 - Rainbow Shark
1 - Red Glass Barb
1 - Black Coolie Loach

Well about a month ago, my redwag platy gave birth to many healthy fry. I figured that she was pregnant form the fish store when I bought her. I have been keeping the fry safe in a breeding net, until I can figure out someone to take them.

But, as I am writing this, she is giving birth AGAIN!! I was able to save a couple of the new fry and put them in the breeding net with the ones that are about a month old. How could this be possible?

I didn't even notice she was pregnant until I saw some of the fry being chased by the black molly. She didn't get real big or have a gravid spot (at least not that I saw)

I was just wondering if anyone had any insight into what might have happened...

Did the black molly get her pregnant? (I don't even know if that is possible)

 

[fluttermoth]

All female livebearers can store sperm for around six months, so she'll just be using that to produce new litters. Platies and mollies can't interbreed, though platies and swordatils can, and mollies and guppies might be able to.

 

[mateysp]

Oh, I had no idea that was possible. Thanks for the info!!!

 

[Louiseness]

All female livebearers can store sperm for around six months, so she'll just be using that to produce new litters. Platies and mollies can't interbreed, though platies and swordatils can, and mollies and guppies might be able to.

Interestingly, one of my LFS has what they say is a molly/guppy hybrid and it really looks like one. Molly sized and a similar body, but a pale blue/gold snakeskin sort of pattern. Seems big and healthy although presumably sterile. I'll have to try and get a pic one day.

 

[OldMan47]

Almost right Fluttermoth. Common poeciliids can typically store sperm packets for up to 6 months. That is the only kind you will usually find in a pet shop so your statement is almost right. I keep goodeids as well as poeciliids so I have tons of fish that cannot store sperm at all. Goodeids are only seen in pet shops around here if I choose to sell some of my fry to a shop. Most of the time mine go to club auctions instead. Pet shops just don't get much call for rare livebearers. It is a shame since almost all of the goodeid group of fish are endangered, threatened or otherwise hard to find. One species I keep were thought to be extinct in the wild until some were found in just the last couple of years. If more people kept and bred the goodeids, they would stand a better chance of long term species survival. Unfortunately for them, they are rather plain fish, not the fancy pretty ones. It is the pretty ones that sell well in pet shops, not these minnows.

 

[mrp3]

My platy is giving birth as I type as well I think the fry may be hybrids of my swordtail he passed on last week so I hope they are. They would hopefully look like they're daddy. .

 

[fluttermoth]

Almost right Fluttermoth. Common poeciliids can typically store sperm packets for up to 6 months. That is the only kind you will usually find in a pet shop so your statement is almost right. I keep goodeids as well as poeciliids so I have tons of fish that cannot store sperm at all. Goodeids are only seen in pet shops around here if I choose to sell some of my fry to a shop. Most of the time mine go to club auctions instead. Pet shops just don't get much call for rare livebearers. It is a shame since almost all of the goodeid group of fish are endangered, threatened or otherwise hard to find. One species I keep were thought to be extinct in the wild until some were found in just the last couple of years. If more people kept and bred the goodeids, they would stand a better chance of long term species survival. Unfortunately for them, they are rather plain fish, not the fancy pretty ones. It is the pretty ones that sell well in pet shops, not these minnows.

I never knew that about goodeids; thank you for the info I love learning new stuff!

My platy is giving birth as I type as well I think the fry may be hybrids of my swordtail he passed on last week so I hope they are. They would hopefully look like they're daddy. .

Most LFS platies and swordtails are hybrids already