Mollies

[Michelle2215]

I was just wondering if someone could explain to me how Mollies actually mate. I understand that they are livebearers and give birth to fry, but how do they get pregnant. Im sure this may sound like a juviniel question, but Ive looked everywhere online and all I can get is that they are livebearers, but do mollies have sex? I always thought all fish layed eggs and then the male fertilized the eggs, so Im a bit confused about this. Thank you.

 

[rdd1952]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

The lights go out, a little wine and maybe some roses.

Seriously, I'm clueless about livebearers and have never heard that question asked (or seen it answered). I am moving your thread to the livebearers section so you will hopefully get an answer.

 

[Colin_T]

The lights go out, a little wine and maybe some roses.

LOL, with responses like that I can't help but laugh.

Most fish do lay eggs and the male fertilises them in the water. In livebearers (mollies, guppies, etc) the male's anal (bottom) fin is rolled into a tube. This modified anal fin is called a gonopodium and is used to impregnate the female. He basically pokes her with his gonopodium and injects a sperm packet into her. The female then uses the sperm packet/s to fertilise the eggs in her body. The eggs hatch and develop inside the female but do not draw any nutrition from the mother. When they are developed to a certain point the female goes into labour and gives birth.

 

[5teady_2012]

The lights go out, a little wine and maybe some roses.

LOL, with responses like that I can't help but laugh.

Most fish do lay eggs and the male fertilises them in the water. In livebearers (mollies, guppies, etc) the male's anal (bottom) fin is rolled into a tube. This modified anal fin is called a gonopodium and is used to impregnate the female. He basically pokes her with his gonopodium and injects a sperm packet into her. The female then uses the sperm packet/s to fertilise the eggs in her body. The eggs hatch and develop inside the female but do not draw any nutrition from the mother. When they are developed to a certain point the female goes into labour and gives birth.

JUst to add to colins post, when the male injects the female has colin said, he injects several packets.. the female stores these packets and uses them over the next 5-6 months.. in other words, she can have fry every 4-6 weeks for 5-6 months even if you remove the male after 1 mating.

Thought that might be useful.

 

[rdd1952]

I wasn't certain how the process worked but knew they could continue to have fry for several months after being in the tank with a male.

 

[Michelle2215]

THANK YOU ALL!!

I can know sleep at night!

 

[Colin_T]

Female Cephlapods like octopus and dumpling squid also carry sperm packets around for months. I had a dumpling squid who laid fertile eggs 5 months after I caught her, and there was no-one else in the tank. It's an interesting adaptation for females to be able to breed anytime they want after they have been fertilised. No more use for males once the deed is done