How Many Fry Can I Expect?

[FishySarah]

Hi. I have 16 tetas of various kinds plus a pair of platys and three mollies (2 females) in a 29 gallon tank. I have had no fry so far (over the past 3 months) but I just had a pregnant platy miscarry (due to me stupidly moving her into a breeding net) and have a molly which I think is in the early stages of pregnancy. My tank has a huge amount of java moss. I am hoping the java moss will provide cover for the babies. My local lfs said they will take any molly or platy babies who are of 'a decent size.'

My questions are:

How many fry can I expect from my two mollies and one platy? How often? If I leave them in the 29 gallon (which may not be a good idea because its fully stocked already) how many can I expect to make it? If I get a ten gallon tank for the fry, would that greatly improve the odds? If I get the ten gallon and stuff it with java moss, can I use it as a nursery for multiple batches of fry? Or should I try to spring for a 20? Problem is, I already have a stand for a ten gallon (well, really a piece of furniture to put it on) but nothing that will support a 20 gallon, meaning that I'd have to buy a stand, which will be more expensive than the tank.

My third option is to use the five gallon I already have for a fry tank. It is cycled and heated, but my betta is in there now. I could get a little 1 gallon for him, and use the five gallon for fry. Would that be cruel to Leo (my betta?) And would a five gallon even be big enough?

I would love to breed and maybe keep a few fry too. (don't know where I'd put them yet, but even if I don't keep that many, I like the thought of babies I've nurtured going out into the world to new homes, even if the store won't give me too much store credit for them.

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

I'm not sure about mollies but believe numbers of fry are similar to those of plattys.

Expect about 15-20 from first couple of births increasing to 30-50. If the fish are older & larger then they could have upto 100 although that is not as common. My platty on her 4 or 5 birth had 66 which was considered a large brood.

It is not unknown for them to pop one out, turn & eat it then continue doing the same with the remainder she has. Also the other fish in tank (if any) may follow her and wait for the free feed.

As for beta, I was told that in the wild they often live in very small holes full of waterwaiting for the rainy season. When it comes they come out into the pool that form, figh, breed & do whatever else they have time to do (mostly fighting & breeding) then back into their holes as the pool dries up. For this reason it is not cruel to keep them in a small betta trap (as the lfs does). Not sure how true that is but if it is then 1 gall would be a 'spacious pad' for them.

Good luck.

 

[FishySarah]

It is not unknown for them to pop one out, turn & eat it then continue doing the same with the remainder she has. Also the other fish in tank (if any) may follow her and wait for the free feed.


Good luck.

That's awful! Is there anything I can do to add to the little guy's chances?

S.

 

[xostrawberryox]

Keep them in a separate tank until they are too big to fit into the parents mouths!! Are u in UK, theres a perfect betta tank i use 1.6gallons and it'll only set u back £35(which includes heater, built in filter and thermometer). If you are in the UK i'll send you the link xx

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

In the community tank the fry would drop quickly to the botton & get lost in the gravel (but I suspect the loach got some out ) so I keeped a good watch & got good judging when so I could transfer mum to a breeding trap just before I went to bed & lift her out the next morning having given birth to the full brood.

If you have a breeding tank then that would be better because if you get it wrong & put her in the trap a few days early she can get stressed & abort/reabsorb the fry.

Give them plants to hide in & you could have marbles or whatever in the bottom of the breeding tank. They will drop between the marbles & the female won't be able to get them. After she has been removed then CAREFULLY remove the marbles 1 at a time and you will be able to clean the bare bottom with ease.

To xostrawberryox.

Send the link anyway, it sounds a good buy (if I can find the space & money ).

 

[K.J.]

It seems like such a small tank would be impossible to efficiently heat or filter.. plus bettas like no surface agitation.... In my 2 gallon the water will skyrocket with the lights alone on for an hour, if you can look for a simple 2.5 rectangular tank with a lid.

 

[FishySarah]

It seems like such a small tank would be impossible to efficiently heat or filter.. plus bettas like no surface agitation.... In my 2 gallon the water will skyrocket with the lights alone on for an hour, if you can look for a simple 2.5 rectangular tank with a lid.

So maybe the five gallon then? I have a pregnant molly. When should I move her?

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

It seems like such a small tank would be impossible to efficiently heat or filter.. plus bettas like no surface agitation.... In my 2 gallon the water will skyrocket with the lights alone on for an hour, if you can look for a simple 2.5 rectangular tank with a lid.

So maybe the five gallon then? I have a pregnant molly. When should I move her?

Breeding cycle is approx. 4 week so if she has 2 to go then move her now, if less then be very gently, acclimatise slowly so as not to stress her & try to match water conditions even if it means syphoning off from tank she is in now to fill the new tank so water is exactly the same.

Had to be very careful with my plattys to protect them from stress both for a few days before & after bith even though they faired better 'mid term'.

Good luck.

It seems like such a small tank would be impossible to efficiently heat or filter.. plus bettas like no surface agitation.... In my 2 gallon the water will skyrocket with the lights alone on for an hour, if you can look for a simple 2.5 rectangular tank with a lid.

If you are meaning heatwise then fitting the tube several inches above a clear tank cover would stop most of the heat & still give ample light for a small tank.

Don't know much about bettas but in a small tank, a sponge filter with slow air flow should control stats and wouldn't disturb the surface much. Would this still be to much for bettas?