How Fast Should They Grow?

[Starfirefly26]

My Balloon Molly Juvies are over a month old, and I still can't sex them (unless they're all female >.>)
They're about half the length of my adult Red Wag Platy.

My month-old Red Wag Juvies are a bit smaller than the Mollies.
(Paramaters are all average)

Is this a normal growth-rate, or should they be bigger by now?

 

[Behemoth]

balloon mollies are slow growing fish. i still have some that are over a year old and they aren't to big except for 2 of them

 

[blitztidus]

Balloon mollies can be sexed anywhere from 1 month to 2 or even 3 months depending on the conditions and the fish.

 

[Annastasia]

Balloon mollies can be sexed anywhere from 1 month to 2 or even 3 months depending on the conditions and the fish.

Sexing at 1 month is very uncommon. 2-3 is usually the earliest, and anytime after that, depending on how fast they develop.

Starfirefly - Seems pretty average to me, as long as your Platy is a normal size. What are you feeding and how many times a day? What size tank?

 

[Starfirefly26]

Usually Once or twice a day, they're all in a 10g.
I try not to feed too much to avoid the Platy and Tetra from going fat.

I do a mix of Bloodworms, Brine Shrimp, and flakes/"crumbles" (mushed up so they can get it, but not so much as it falls in the gravel)
It was basically the sexing and rates I was wondering about. My LFS doens't buy them unless they're at 1 and a half inches long (about). They definitely need some time for that.

 

[Annastasia]

I'd feed them more often. Fry have smaller stomachs, so food goes through them faster, and they need food to grow. I'd go for at least 2 times a day, possibly more. Is there anyway you can divide them off from the other fish?

 

[Starfirefly26]

Not unless I try to fight 40 little bodies.
I could always isolate the two adults, too. They're easier to catch. They can't dart behind filter tubes or hide in the gravel.

 

[Annastasia]

It might be worth a try then, even if just for a few months so the fry can get fed a little more often. You don't have to feed more, per se, just break it up into more meals. Or if they tend to eat it all up when you do feed them, maybe a little more food. Just be careful not to overfeed, since they bloat or get constipated easily.