Mollies

[Mariah]

Hi,
Im new to this whole fish thing. Like we have a 50 gal tank in the basement but I just recently bought a 10 gal tank for my room. I presently have four mollies in the tank. Two are black lyretail mollies. Im not sure what the other two are called. They are black and white with spots. What is there name?
Also, the two mollies with the spots have been "doing the deed".... How long does it take for her to have the fry? I think there called fry?.....
Thanks

 

[Germyzero]

The Molly might be a dalmation or marble molly if the spots are orange.

 

[tank212]

im geussing dalmation mollys and i dont know how long it takes for them to drop after their impregnated but the female might already have been pregnant keep that in mind i hope this helps

 

[Germyzero]

What does your pregnant fish look like. Is its gravid spot dark?

 

[Mariah]

My mollies are white with black spots so does that mean there dalmation mollies?And im sorry but whats a "gravid spot"?

 

[Germyzero]

It is the spot right next to the big stomach it is like a small circle it is usually red i think.

 

[Mariah]

Germyzco - That spot just looks white. I dont see any red....

 

[morgan]

I bought two dalmation mollies and one of them was pregnant when I bought them (I didn't know!). They can have two or three lots of fry from one mating. They store things up. From the one mollie 23 fry survived. They eat there own fry until the surviving ones are too big to eat. Some of the fry are silver with black spots and some are nearly black. The one black one has an enormous dorsal fin, he is more like a sailfin molly. If the fry reproduce the fry will be deformed because the parents are brothers and sisters. I use a gravel cleaner anyway so I hope to get them out while they are too small to see. Wouldn't like to have to euthenase them later on.

 

[Mariah]

How do you euthanize a fish?

 

[morgan]

I have never had to do it yet but it tells you on this forum. You can get some stuff from the vet which you put the fish in and it "goes to sleep" or you can physically kill the fish. Best to read the full details first to make sure it is done properly. I think I would get the solution. In fact, I know I would !

 

[Mariah]

Wow, I never knew you could euthanize a fish! This board is very informative!

 

[tank212]

Why do you need to kill a fish? Is it sick? Can you not return it to the LFS?

 

[Mariah]

Oh! I dont have to euthanize a fish!!! One of the above posters had said something about euthanizing a fish and I never knew that you could euthanize a fish so I was just asking questions!

 

[morgan]

I think you have to do it if you have tried everything and the fish is suffering. Mine that have died just died of old age.

 

[Mariah]

Ok some more questions about mollies for everyone!

Is is normal for my black lyretail male mollie to be huvvering near the ground? He was more social and now he just stays near the ground... Not all the time though, only sometime. Should I be worried?

Also how long does it take for a mollie to give birth? Its a dalmation mollie and was caught "doing the deed" 2 days ago.