Is It Possible?

[kribensis12]

Well, i gave m yteahcer 2 baby mollies, and 2 baby platy's in November. I got them for free at Petsmart at 1/2 inch at the most. One platy seemed to have a gravid spot. FAST FORWARD TO THE 23RD OF JANUARY: The mollies hav eturned out to be 1 male( very nice looking male by the way, never seen one quite as nice as him) and 1 female. THe platy's hav eturned out to be female. Here is where it get's complicated. All three females are VERY PREGNANT. I am thinking they are due on Satuerday. The mollie is about to burst, and so are the platy's. The platy's have a very Deep Black gravid spot which is very big. So, what i dont ge tis. I was always told Mollies CANT impregnate Platy's under ANY circumstances. I was told that they dont ahve the same amount of Chromosomes. Well, how is this possible?Im really confused! I am going to bring a Net breeder( not the box ones!!!!!!!) and some fake stuff for fry hiding places. I will try to bring back some of the platy's fry and see what they tunr out to be and post pic's. But i dont want to wait till summer to find out!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to know how they got pregnant with no male Platy in the tnak, and what thier fry will look like!!!!!!! Also, they platies show no signs of a modified anal fin. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[5teady_2012]

Can you post some pics, i will tell you when they will drop thier fry, if pregnant.

 

[kribensis12]

I know how to tell if they are ready to fdrop, i've had livebearer's since i was 5. I was just wondering if they are pregnant, how did they get pregnant! I was always told it was impossible.

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Some livebearers can store sperm for up to six months, and have multiple batches of fry from one mating, so they were probably already pregnant when you got them.

You're going to have sooooooo many babies!

 

[kribensis12]

The thing is, im aware of them storing sperm, but they were dinky little thing's, barley big enough to catch them in a net! 1/2 inch is a over statement in size, petsmart wasnt aware that there were babies in the tank. Also, theese fish have never shown signs of pregnancy before.

 

[Strippy]

Sexual Maturity in Livebearers is pretty young..Around 6-8 weeks. Tis possible they were already pregnant

Strippy

 

[kribensis12]

It is possible! But i have never heard of a fish keeping it's young in for 2 month's or more! I have enver seen fry in the tank either, and the tank has like 10 plants and lot's of hiding places!

 

[helterskelter]

I've heard that some fish will store sperm from a young age but have never see it personally.
As you already know it's impossible for the dad to be a molly, as these will only ever cross with other platys and swordtail species.

 

[kribensis12]

mmkat, i was just wondering as it seem's so odd!

 

[dunchp]

mmkat, i was just wondering as it seem's so odd!

Yup, it is impossible that it would be a xiphophorus (platy) / poecilia (molly) cross.

The platies will have been impregnated before you bought them, or were impregnated whilst you had them (before you gave them to your teacher).

 

[5teady_2012]

mmkat, i was just wondering as it seem's so odd!

Yup, it is impossible that it would be a xiphophorus (platy) / poecilia (molly) cross.

Mollies will cross breed with platys, mine have done this (i put 2 male mollies in with 6 virgin platys and they all dropped fry at a later date , thats proof thy will)

 

[dunchp]

Wow. I will have to put you in touch with a couple of ichthyologists, they will be really interested to hear that you have managed to cross a Xiphophorus with a Poecilia.

 

[5teady_2012]

Wow. I will have to put you in touch with a couple of ichthyologists, they will be really interested to hear that you have managed to cross a Xiphophorus with a Poecilia.

Ive crossed mollies with swords and platys and all with each other.. try it if you dont think you can

 

[kribensis12]

How do you know they were Virgin?

 

[omega59]

sounds like a science project going on there 5teady LMAO. i hope the fish don't have genetic defects nonetheless it's neato!

any fish you buy at a petshop you will have no wya of knowing if they were virgins unless you got them so young like 1-2 weeks old, even then i dunno.