fishnovice
Fish Herder
TWO URGENT QUESTIONS, both relating to heavily pregnant black molly.
HASSLING BY MALE - male molly has been occasionally sniffing around her anal fin the last 2 weeks. Normally they get on well and he doesn't bother her much but last night he started chasing her all over the tank. Put in lots of plastic plants to give her somewhere to hide. No use, he follows her like a shadow constantly sniffing her anal fin and somtimes poking her belly with his nose. This morning he was still chasing her -she must be exhausted. Mollies share a tank with a couple of smaller peaceful swordtails
Should I
1. Remove male molly to give her a rest and leave her in the tank. Will swordtails eat her fry when she gives birth?
2. Move pregnant female to small birth tank on her own. Is there any way of speeding up birth? (see below)
OVERDUE BIRTH - Got a pair of black mollies about 2 inches long 12 weeks ago. Was told female was pregnant and she certainly looked it. She has now grown much fatter and is squared off at the bottom but still no fry. She's long overdue but no sign of white ball near caudal fin . Can't see gravid spot as she's black.(No she has given birth and eaten them, she's very fat). She sometimes hangs around heater and in corners -always has done- but is fit healthy and active. I'm not overfeeding as all other fish are slim.
What can I do to speed up the birth? I've read horrific tales on this forum of heavily pregnant livebearers splitting in two and don't want to lose her.
HASSLING BY MALE - male molly has been occasionally sniffing around her anal fin the last 2 weeks. Normally they get on well and he doesn't bother her much but last night he started chasing her all over the tank. Put in lots of plastic plants to give her somewhere to hide. No use, he follows her like a shadow constantly sniffing her anal fin and somtimes poking her belly with his nose. This morning he was still chasing her -she must be exhausted. Mollies share a tank with a couple of smaller peaceful swordtails
Should I
1. Remove male molly to give her a rest and leave her in the tank. Will swordtails eat her fry when she gives birth?
2. Move pregnant female to small birth tank on her own. Is there any way of speeding up birth? (see below)
OVERDUE BIRTH - Got a pair of black mollies about 2 inches long 12 weeks ago. Was told female was pregnant and she certainly looked it. She has now grown much fatter and is squared off at the bottom but still no fry. She's long overdue but no sign of white ball near caudal fin . Can't see gravid spot as she's black.(No she has given birth and eaten them, she's very fat). She sometimes hangs around heater and in corners -always has done- but is fit healthy and active. I'm not overfeeding as all other fish are slim.
What can I do to speed up the birth? I've read horrific tales on this forum of heavily pregnant livebearers splitting in two and don't want to lose her.