fry!

[kittyuk]

Bit of a dilemma!
Just found one fry in the aquarium. I've netted the two pregnant guppys and the two pregnant silver mollies. Have caught the fry but after an hour, there's no more babies from the females.
Question ~ how long between each fry?
It looks like a new mollie, but it couldn't be a three week old danio, could it?

 

[William]

I'm sure its a molly or guppy, probably a molly.

Often the mumma will give birth to all or close to all in a very short period however, sometimes the remainder or in fact them all... can be spaced out over a long time such as 4 or 5 days until they are all born, you'll probably find some more tommorow. Did you put the fry in a breeding net? try and feed the fry at least twice but much better 3 times a day on really finely crushed up fish flake and also try and get some baby brine shrimp or liquifeed but the finely crushed flake will do fine for now, use the specia food for extra growth try this: http/fish.orbust.net/livebearers.html

 

[kittyuk]

I have got the four pregnant fish (don't know which one had the fry) in one breeding net and the fry in another, in the community tank Just hope that the fry aren't sucked through the net by the other tank inhabitants
We had the liquafeed in ready for this event! The fry is very pale, so it could be a little mollie (would the guppy fry be darker?)
Hmmmmm, think this calls for a breeder tank

 

[Sharkey G]

A breeder / quarantine tank would be ideal. Preferably 5 1/2 gallon or 10 gallon for guppies. As well as the crushed flake food and liquifeed, remember to provide plenty of plant hideaway spaces and hiding spaces in general for the new fry, as the mother may decide to eat them all in the first few days !

 

[William]

I have got the four pregnant fish (don't know which one had the fry) in one breeding net and the fry in another, in the community tank Just hope that the fry aren't sucked through the net by the other tank inhabitants
We had the liquafeed in ready for this event! The fry is very pale, so it could be a little mollie (would the guppy fry be darker?)
Hmmmmm, think this calls for a breeder tank

Well, thats quite a large density for one breeding net and I fear that each mother will eat the others young. I think you should just chose the fish which you think is 'most into' the pregnancy and leave it in the breeding net and release the rest back into the big aquarium or... A breeder tank is ideal heavily planted, then just wait for the mommas to become thin and you'll know there are loads of fry hiding in there!

Remember that guppies and mollies not only like to hide in plants but they love to hide under things - rocks/driftwood even marbles. So make sure you lift up these you should be pleasantly suprised with some babies although you probably already have .

Good luck its great being a parent make sure you feed the fry twice or 3 times daily.

 

[kittyuk]

Thanks William
We had the liquid fry food ready for the youngster's arrival.

We have now got four fry of unknown parentage!
The four females are out in the tank again, so any more fry will have to take their chances

Went to lfs and bought a pair of green sailfin mollies today, came out with two adults and five fry (the fry were swimming in the tank, and ....well, if you don't ask

The mollie fry have gone into the breeder net with our fry.

The female green mollie has been continually escorted around the tank by our amourus blue guppy. He is relentless
I saw the post about betta/mollie matings but how about a guppy/mollie cross?

The new green male is having a hard time from the resident male silver mollie, will things calm down?

 

[William]

Well guppies and mollies are more similar in genetics. I however doubt it will happen, Swordtail / platy crosses are very common but that is because they are practically identical. I have heard of "pluppies" - platy / guppy crosses, I am not sure the conditions of this but I keep both guppies and platies in my tank and they have never cross bred.

But I have never ever heard of "moppies" ie guppy/molly crosses, so I don't think it will happen in your tank. I imagine the male guppy is just being frisky - how many females have you got for him ? I find a ratio of at least 2 females to 1 male is best but 3:1 is even better to calm him down and prevent the females getting too molested.

Hope this helps somewhat

 

[kittyuk]

We have two males and four females, but he sure likes that big green momma

 

[William]

lol well let us know how they get on things should calm down

 

[PunkRock050]

Swordtail / platy crosses are very common

Yeah I have a red velvet sword and a platy crossbreed. Its pretty cool cuz hes exactly half and half

 

[pondfreak4365]

Congratulations Kittyuk, I'm so glad you have babies!

 

[kittyuk]

Thanks pondfreak4365

 

[Sharkey G]

What an appropriate avatar, KittyUK !!

 

[Danny - the lost soul---]

congrats kitty,
Danny

 

[kittyuk]

I was surprised when I saw the avatar on this site Sharkey G, I used to be a nurse, many, many moons ago

It's very nice to have babies again


I will put some salt into the tank with the mollie fry, what would be a good bottom feeder for that tank, and would a pleco eat the fry?
I would love a zebra pleco, but they are £70 in the local lfs