Livebears Problems

[storm008]

Well i went out this morning, in search for some black mollies and sword tails. Although i am alittle angrey about what i have came back with.

I got 6 black mollies, i asked for one male the rest female. She gave me all female, so theres not gonna be much action in the molly breeding tank. So i moved my male black molly over from the community tank and he think all his xmas have come at once. Anyway back to the problem, the mollys are healthy looking but there not jet black, they seem a tad pale. IS ther anything i can do to bring out there colour.

Same happened with the swords i asked for 1 male and 3 females. She gave me 3 males to a female and i strongly suspect that 2 of the males are platies.

I do know that it is my fault but i contiued picking out some food and blood worm as she said she would be fine picking them.

 

[Harlequins]

Hi & welcome

Firstly how long has the tank been set up?
Female Mollies that have been with males are almost certainly pregnant,they can store sperm and can drop fry for up to 6 months without even a male being present...

Did they look pale when you bought them? it could be they're just getting use to the tank and hopefully when settled will come look better.

Might be good to check your ammonia & nitrite readings,thats a lot of fish to add in one go...

If you're not happy with the sexes you got i suggest you take them back and get what you ask for.

 

[storm008]

Ok thanks for the reply, tank stats are normal. The tank has been running for a few weeks now. I added 4 moliies and 2 swords to the new tank and put everything else in my community which has been running for months now.

Is there anyway i can bring out the true black lmao, if that make sence

 

[OldMan47]

It does indeed make sense to me. The best colors you can expect with black mollies are often found when the fish are kept in well planted, mature tanks. I feed my mollies a mix of foods that is high in vegetable content and ensure that they are in high pH hard water. By optimizing the care of my mollies, they show their best colors. I also refuse to run my tanks as hot as some would suggest since I find they do best in the 23 to 25C range.

 

[omega59]

Firstly sorry to hear they did that to you, and I would return them. Also I had a fish that went all pale white it was due to bad water quality. I know you said yours are fine but could it be they are a poor health fish from the store?

 

[5teady_2012]

Seems as your questions as been answered above, il suggest something to you...

Know for sure yourself which are meale and female, do not leave the store not knowing what you got..

In a shop, no matter how packed the tank is, never be afraid to say you want a particular fish either, i always do it cos i only buy heavy pregnant females.

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To tell males and females apart is simple...

This is a male, with a gonopodium (near the anal area which is circled in the pic).

And this is a female (she has a anal fin (which is squared in the pic)